| Birth name | Latu Makaafi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | August 17, 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Faleloa, Tonga [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 107 kg (236 lb; 16 st 12 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Latu Makaafi, also spelt as Latu Maka'afi, (born 1982) [2] is a Tongan rugby union flanker and Number 8 [3] who plays for Hull having previously been at Coventry.
Makaafi started playing rugby in England in 2000 when he started playing for Bradford & Bingley RFC. [4] In 2006, he signed for London 2 South club Jersey Reds, becoming the first professional player for Jersey [5] after receiving a work permit from the States of Jersey Customs and Immigration Service. [6] In 2008, Makaafi signed for Hull. In October 2008, he was suspended from playing rugby for 8 weeks by the Yorkshire Rugby Football Union after being sent off for punching. [7] In 2009, Makaafi signed for Wharfedale R.U.F.C. [8] In 2011, he left Wharfedale for Doncaster Knights. [3] In leaving Wharfedale Makaafi recommended that fellow Tongan Talite Vaioleti would replace him at Wharfedale. [9] In 2012, Makaafi moved to fellow RFU Championship team Rotherham Titans for the 2012–13 RFU Championship season as part of a mass exodus of players from Doncaster Knights. [10] During his time at Rotherham Titans, Makaafi played as a guest player at his old club, Bradford & Bingley for a match between a Bradford Salem Select XV and Bradford Grammar School. [11] In 2013, it was announced that Makaafi would return to Jersey for their 2013–14 season. [5] Following a season at Jersey it was announced that Latu would be returning to Doncaster for the 2014–15 season. [12] Late in the 2016–2017 season, it was announced by Coventry Rugby that he had signed for them for the 2017–2018 season from Doncaster. [13]
Makaafi has represented Tonga at a number of levels. He has represented the Tonga national under-20 rugby union team. [14] [15]
Bradford & Bingley
Hull
Wharfedale
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