Maama Molitika

Last updated

Maama Molitika
Birth nameMaama Kalafi Molitika
Date of birth (1974-08-26) 26 August 1974 (age 50)
Place of birthHa'apai, Tonga
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight238 lb (108 kg)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number Eight
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2001–2003 Bridgend 11 (10)
2003–2004 Celtic Warriors 4 (2)
2004–2005 Harlequin F.C. 10 ()
2006–2007 IBM Big Blue 112 (85)
2007–2012 Cardiff Blues 21 (10)
2012–2013 Rugby San Donà ()
2013–2020 Ampthill ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1997–2007 Tonga 18 (5)
2006 Pacific Islanders 3 (0)

Maama Molitika (26 August 1974) is a Tongan former rugby union footballer. He is 6'5". He has played numerous times for the national Tongan team, making his debut in June 1997 against Fiji. He was also in the Pacific Islanders rugby union team squad that toured Europe in 2006. He played as a blind-side flanker.

Molitika was born in Haʻapai in Tonga and moved to new Zealand as a teenager. [1] After playing rugby at school in new Zealand he returned to Tong ain 1996 for a holiday, and was invited to train with the national side. [2]

In 2002–03 he was Bridgend's joint top try scorer of the season, and was a part of the team that went on to win the Welsh Premiership for the first time in the club's history. Following the regionalisation of Welsh rugby in 2003–04, he joined the now defunct Celtic Warriors, and played the one season that the region existed for, including playing for them in the Heineken Cup. After the Warriors were dissolved at the end of the 2003–04 season, he signed to play for Harlequin F.C. in the English premiership. [3] He then moved to Welsh region the Cardiff Blues.

In 2006 he went to Japan and played for Japanese team IBM Big Blue.

However, it was announced in 2007 that he would be returning to the Cardiff Blues to cover for players that would be absent due to Wales' World Cup campaign, as well as covering for any injured players.

On his return to the Cardiff Blues, Molitika dispelled previous concerns that his standard of play would have decreased from a year in the less-competitive Japanese League, with some outstanding performances for the Cardiff Blues. Molitika had established himself as the teams' first-choice flanker with his effective ball-carrying and his tireless work-rate winning much praise from coaches and fans alike.

Maama in the 2012-13 season will be hired by the Rugby San Donà, a newly promoted Italian team that were excelling after winning the Serie A 2011-2012. Maama became a very important man for the Venetian team.

Maama also has a brother, Haloti Molitika, who is currently playing for Worcester Rugby Club's Academy side.

Maama also coached local rugby Team Sully Sports Rfc who play in the WRU Div 7 league and university side Bedfordshire Bull's Luton campus team.

Molitika retired from rugby in 2020. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardiff Rugby</span> Professional Welsh regional rugby union team

Cardiff Rugby are one of the four professional Welsh rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the team play at Cardiff Arms Park. Originally formed in 1876, from 2003 to 2021 the first team was known as the Cardiff Blues before rebranding back to Cardiff Rugby prior to the start of the 2021–22 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonga national rugby union team</span> Rugby union team

The Tonga national rugby union team represents the Tonga Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. The team is nicknamed ʻIkale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a traditional challenge – the Sipi Tau. They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Samoa. The Ikale Tahi achieved a historic 19–14 victory over France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but having lost to New Zealand and Canada, were unable to achieve what would have been their first-ever presence at the quarter-finals.

Philip Thomas Davies is a Welsh former rugby union footballer of the 1980s and 1990s. He is now an international coach, currently serving as director of rugby at Leeds Tykes, whilst running his own sports consultancy company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epi Taione</span> Tongan rugby player (born 1979)

Epi Taione is a former Tongan rugby union footballer whose last club was London Welsh. He normally played at centre but could cover the wing or back row.

Rico Levi Gear is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He was a specialist right wing but also covered midfield positions.

Aleki Lutui in Tofoa, Tonga, is a Tongan rugby union international player. His position is hooker. He is currently playing club rugby for Ampthill in RFU Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taufaʻao Filise</span> Rugby player

Taufa'ao Filise is a Tongan former rugby union footballer who played over 250 games for the Cardiff Blues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soane Tongaʻuiha</span> Rugby player

Soane Tongaʻuiha is a Tongan-born, New Zealand-educated, rugby union player and coach. His longest stint was spent with the Northampton Saints, with whom he formed a formidable reputation and rose to prominence, becoming a fan favourite. He has played internationally for Tonga. His position of choice is loose-head prop, although he sometimes plays at tight-head. He is known for his large size and fierce runs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fetuʻu Vainikolo</span> Rugby player

Fetu'u Moana Vainikolo is a Tongan rugby union player who for the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby (MLR). His regular playing position is Wing.

Sililo Victor Martens is a former Tongan international rugby union player.

Siua Taumalolo is a f former rugby union player. His former teams include Bristol in the Guinness Premiership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley Beck</span> Wales international rugby union footballer

Ashley Beck is a Wales international rugby union player. Beck currently played for Merthyr RFC, and has previously played for Worcester Warriors and the Ospreys. He has represented Wales and Wales U20. He is the current attack coach of Premiership Women's Rugby side Worcester Warriors Women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Piutau</span> Rugby player

Salesi Tu'ipulotu Piutau, often known as Charles Piutau, is a professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for Japan Rugby League One club Shizuoka Blue Revs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malakai Fekitoa</span> Tongan rugby union player

Malakai Fonokalafi Fekitoa is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Benetton and the Tonga national team.

Maama Vaipulu is a New Zealand rugby player of Tongan descent. He represented Counties Manukau and the Chiefs in New Zealand and Tonga on an international level. Currently he plays in the number 8 and occasionally flanker position for the France based Top 14 side, Castres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dillon Lewis</span> Welsh rugby union player

Dillon Anthony Lewis is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Premiership Rugby club Harlequins and the Wales national team.

Viliami Taulani is a Tongan rugby union player who plays for Harlequins in the Premiership Rugby. His playing position is flanker.

References

  1. ↑ "The Tongan who became a Welsh rugby favourite and is still playing the game at 45". Wales Online. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  2. ↑ "'Untouchable' Molitika proves value of hard graft". 19 February 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  3. ↑ "Maama Molitika signs for Harlequins". Rugby Network. 9 July 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  4. ↑ Ian Anderson (21 April 2020). "Ex-Tonga rugby star Ma'ama Molitika hangs up boots aged 45". Stuff. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.