Francis Saili

Last updated • 3 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Francis Saili
Francis Saili 2016.jpg
Date of birth (1991-02-16) 16 February 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight99 kg (15.6 st; 218 lb)
School St Peter's College
Notable relative(s) Peter Saili (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2011–2014 Auckland 14 (5)
2012–2015 Blues 42 (35)
2012–2013 North Harbour 15 (15)
2015–2017 Munster 40 (45)
2017–2020 Harlequins 34 (10)
2020–2022 Biarritz 48 (50)
2022- Racing 92 25 (20)
Correct as of 18 September 2021
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2011 New Zealand U20 5 (20)
2013 New Zealand 2 (0)
2014 Barbarians 2 (12)
Correct as of 26 September 2021

Francis Saili (born 16 February 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player, currently playing for French club Racing 92. He plays primarily as a centre, though he can also play wing. He is the younger brother of Blues loose forward Peter Saili.

Contents

Early life

Saili was born in Auckland and educated at St Peter's College where he played rugby in the school First XV. He was the captain in 2009. [1] He represented New Zealand in schoolboy and global under-age tournaments. After leaving school he played for Auckland Marist.

Career

Saili was part of the New Zealand Under 20 team that won the Junior World Championship in Italy in 2011. [2]

Saili started his professional rugby career in 2011, with a start in the ITM Cup for Auckland. [3] In 2012, he commenced playing for the Blues in a match against the Stormers. [4] In 2013, Saili made his debut for the All Blacks against Argentina in Hamilton. [5] On 1 November 2014, he played for the Barbarians against Australia, scoring a try at Twickenham.

On 6 April 2015, it was announced that Saili would be joining Irish provincial side Munster on a two-year contract. [6] He made his debut on 21 August 2015 in Munster's uncapped pre-season friendly loss to Irish rivals Connacht. [7] Saili made his full Munster debut on 13 September 2015, starting against Ospreys in the 2015–16 Pro12. [8] He made his European Rugby Champions Cup debut on 14 November 2015, starting the opening 2015–16 pool game against Treviso. [9] [10] On 16 August 2016, it was announced that Saili would be out for 3–4 months following a surgical procedure on his shoulder. [11]

On 26 December 2016, Saili made his return from the injury, coming on as a replacement for Jaco Taute in Munster's game against Leinster. On 14 January 2017, Saili scored the winning try in Munster's 12–14 away win against Glasgow Warriors, a win that secured Munster's place in the quarter-finals of the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup. [12] On 19 May 2017, it was announced that Saili would leave Munster at the end of the 2016–17 season. [13] The following day, in what was his final appearance for Munster in Thomond Park, Saili scored a try and won the Man-of-the-Match award in the sides 23–3 2016–17 Pro12 semi-final victory against Ospreys. [14] On 27 May 2017, Saili made his final appearance for Munster when he started against Scarlets in the 2017 Pro12 Grand Final in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. [15] [16]

On 21 June 2017, it was announced that Saili had signed for English Premiership side Harlequins. Saili played in his first senior game after recovering from an injury on 14 October in a European Champions Cup game against French side La Rochelle. He came on as a substitute in a 34–27 loss. [17]

Saili left Harlequins to join French Pro D2 club Biarritz for the 2020–21 season where he played a pivotal role in helping the club secure promotion. [18] Biarritz lost to Perpignan in the 2021 Pro D2 Final, however helped the club to gain promition to the Top 14 winning against Bayonne. He played another season where Biarritz finished 14th and were relegated to the Pro D2.

Francis then signed on a one-year contract with Racing 92 before the 2022-23 Season where Racing reached the Top 14 Semi finals losing to Toulouse. Francis signed a contact extension keeping him at Racing for another season.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul O'Connell</span> Irish rugby union coach and former player

Paul Jeremiah O'Connell is an Irish former rugby union player and coach. When he retired, he was Ireland's third most-capped player (108) and the eighteenth most-capped international player in rugby union history. During his career, O'Connell captained Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He is now the forwards coach for the Ireland national men's team.

David Peter Wallace is an Irish retired rugby union player, who played for Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He normally played as an openside flanker, but could also play blindside flanker and number 8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hayes (rugby union)</span> Irish rugby union player

John James Hayes is a retired Irish rugby union player who played in the Pro12 and Heineken Cup for Munster. He didn't start playing rugby until he was 18; prior to this he played with the local Cappamore GAA hurling club. It was his size that enabled him to overcome his late start to the sport. He continues to "follow GAA in Limerick very much and especially hurling".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey Laulala</span> Rugby player

Casey Daniel Eti Laulala is a Samoan-born New Zealand former rugby union player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Chisholm</span> Australian rugby union player

Mark Chisholm is a retired Australian rugby union player. Chisholm usually played as a lock, but could also cover blindside flanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Horan</span> Rugby player

Marcus Horan is a retired Irish rugby union player who played prop for Munster and Ireland.

John Kelly is a retired Irish rugby union footballer. He played for Munster in the Celtic League and the Heineken Cup, and played for Cork Constitution in the All Ireland League (AIL).

Denis Fogarty is a former Irish rugby union player who played at hooker for Munster, Aurillac, Agen and Provence. He has also represented Ireland at schoolboy, U21 and 'A' level. He was educated at Rockwell College. In May 2016, Fogarty was forced to retire from rugby after suffering a recurrence of a shoulder injury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eusebio Guiñazú</span> Argentine rugby union player (born 1982)

Eusebio Guiñazú is an Argentine rugby union player. His usual position is as a prop or hooker.

Brendon James Botha, better known as BJ Botha is a South African former rugby union player. He played as a prop. He is now a housemaster and rugby coach at Glenstal Abbey School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Chambers</span> Australia international rugby league and union footballer

William Chambers is a retired Australian rugby league and union footballer who last played for the LA Giltinis in Major League Rugby (MLR) in the United States. After winning two titles with the Melbourne Storm, he retired from Australia's NRL in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean Deysel</span> Rugby player

Jean Roy Deysel is a former professional rugby union player who most recently played for Ulster in the Pro14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerhard van den Heever</span> Rugby player

Gerhard Jacobus van den Heever is a South African-born Japanese rugby union player for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Kubota Spears in the Top League. His regular playing position is as a wing.

Shaun Payne is a South African-born, Irish-qualified retired rugby union player. He qualified to play for Ireland because his grandmother is from Easkey, County Sligo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Dougall</span> Irish rugby union player

Sean Dougall is an Irish former rugby union player, and current coach. He played primarily as an openside Flanker but could also play blindside or No.8. Dougall is currently the contact skills coach at La Rochelle in the French Top 14.

Cian Bohane is a former Irish rugby union player. He played primarily as a centre, but could also play on the wing. Bohane played his club rugby with Dolphin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Lacey (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

John Lacey is a former Ireland A and Ireland Sevens rugby union international and current rugby union referee. As a player, Lacey spent most of career with Shannon in the All-Ireland League. He also represented Munster. As an international referee he has taken charge of matches in the Six Nations Championship, the Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup. He also refereed the 2013 Pro12 Grand Final and the 2015–16 and 2016–17 European Rugby Challenge Cup finals.

John Madigan is an Irish rugby union player. He plays as a lock for French Rugby Pro D2 side Béziers.

Jordan Coghlan is an Irish rugby union player who currently plays in the All Ireland League for amateur side Terenure College RFC. His preferred position is Number 8. He has previously played for Nottingham in the RFU Championship, Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby as well as Leinster and Munster in Ireland.

The 2016–17 Munster Rugby season was Munster's sixteenth season competing in the Pro12, alongside which they also competed in the European Rugby Champions Cup. It was Anthony Foley's third season as head coach and Rassie Erasmus's first season as director of rugby.

References

  1. St Peter's College Magazine 2009, p. 102.
  2. "All Blacks squad named for Steinlager Series - 6 new caps", Allblacks.com, 2 June 2013. Archived 8 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 2 June 2013)
  3. Leggat, David (12 July 2012). "New boys bolster Auckland". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  4. Gray, Wynne (19 March 2012). "Wobbly Blues left little wriggle room". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  5. Gray, Wynne (7 September 2013). "All Blacks grind out win". NZ Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  6. "Munster Sign Francis Saili". munsterrugby.ie. 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  7. "Munster Vs Connacht 21 Aug 2015". the42.ie. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  8. "Munster Just Shade It In Swansea". munsterrugby.ie. 13 September 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  9. "Side Named For European Opener". munsterrugby.ie. 13 November 2015. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  10. "Job Done In Thomond". munsterrugby.ie. 14 November 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  11. "Squad Update". munsterrugby.ie. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  12. "Munster Secure Their Place In Champions Cup Quarter-Final". munsterrugby.ie. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  13. "Player Contract Update". munsterrugby.ie. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  14. "Munster Secure Guinness PRO12 Final Place". munsterrugby.ie. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  15. "Munster Unchanged For Guinness PRO12 Final". munsterrugby.ie. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  16. "Aviva Anguish In PRO12 Final". munsterrugby.ie. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  17. "Saili signs for Harlequins". planetrugby.com. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  18. "Francis Saili: Harlequins centre to join French second-tier side Biarritz". BBC Sport . 18 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.