| Date of birth | 26 October 1960 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Rarotonga, Cook Islands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mata'afa George Keenan (born Rarotonga, 26 October 1960) is a Cook Islands-born Samoan former rugby union player. He played as a lock.
| Date of birth | 26 October 1960 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Rarotonga, Cook Islands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mata'afa George Keenan (born Rarotonga, 26 October 1960) is a Cook Islands-born Samoan former rugby union player. He played as a lock.
Keenan debuted in the 1991 Rugby World Cup roster in the match against Wales, at Cardiff on 6 October 1991. His last international match was against Australia at Sydney, on 6 August 1994.
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial international rugby union championship. It was principally hosted by Wales, and was won by Australia. This was the first Rugby World Cup to be held in the sport's professional era.
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France: at the time, the five European countries who participated in the Five Nations Championship. This was the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the northern hemisphere, with England the hosts of the final. Also for the first time, qualifying competitions were introduced as the number of entrants had increased from 16 nations four years before to a total of 33 countries. The eight quarter-finalists from 1987 qualified automatically with the remaining eight spots contested through qualifiers by 25 countries. This resulted in only one new side qualifying for the tournament, Western Samoa replacing Tonga. The same 16-team pool/knock-out format was used with just minor changes to the points system. South Africa was again not included because of sanctions imposed on the country by the IRB, due to the government's apartheid policies.
The Samoa national rugby union team represents Samoa in men's international rugby union and it is governed by the Samoa Rugby Union. They are also known as Manu Samoa, which is thought to derive from the name of a Samoan warrior. They perform a traditional Samoan challenge called the siva tau before each game. Samoa Rugby Union were formerly members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Tonga. They are ranked 12th in the world.
The Fiji national rugby union team represents Fiji in men's international rugby union competes every four years at the Rugby World Cup, and their best performances were the 1987 and 2007 tournaments when they defeated Argentina and Wales respectively to reach the quarterfinals. Fiji also regularly plays test matches during the June and November test windows. Fiji also plays in the Pacific Tri-Nations, and has won the most Pacific Tri-Nations Championships of the three participating teams.
The Tonga national rugby union team represents Tonga in men's international rugby union and it's nicknamed ʻIkale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – 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.
Harrison Luther Mata'afa Hansen is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row and loose forward for Toulouse Olympique in the Betfred Championship. He has played for Samoa and New Zealand at international level.
Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II was a Western Samoan paramount chief and politician. The holder of the Mataʻafa title, one of the four main Samoan chieftainships, he became the first prime minister of Western Samoa in 1959, serving until 1970. He held the position again from 1973 until his death in 1975.
Enele "Henry" Tuilagi is a Samoan former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He appeared ten times for his national team Samoa and played club rugby in Italy, France and England.
Richard 'Richie' Eyres is an English-born former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played international rugby league for Great Britain, England and Wales, and at club level for Blackbrook ARLFC, St Helens, Widnes St. Maries ARLFC, Widnes, Leeds, Warrington Wolves, Sheffield Eagles and Rochdale Hornets, as a second-row, or loose forward, and club level rugby union for Neath and Coventry.
Peter Mata'utia-Leifi, also known by the nickname of "Peanut", is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre, fullback or stand-off for the Warrington Wolves in the Betfred Super League.
The 2014 Rugby League Four Nations tournament was the fourth staging of the Rugby League Four Nations tournament played in Australia and New Zealand over three weeks from Saturday, 25 October to Saturday, 15 November 2014. The series was contested by regular participants Australia, England and New Zealand, joined by Samoa, having won their Pacific qualifier against Fiji. New Zealand won the tournament, defeating Australia in the final at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on Saturday 15 November.
Chanel Mata'utia-Leifi is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He plays for the Cessnock Goannas in the Newcastle Rugby League. His positions are wing and centre. He previously played for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League.
Sione Mata'utia-Leifi is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a loose forward and second-row forward for St Helens in the Betfred Super League. He has represented both Australia and Samoa at international level.
Pat Mata'utia-Leifi is a Samoa international rugby league footballer. His positions are second-row and centre. He previously played for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League.
Fa’alemiga Selesele is a Samoan rugby union player. Selesele represents Samoa internationally in rugby sevens and is the current captain. He has appeared in 139 matches for Samoa and scored 255 points.
Toleafoa Andrew Anitelea Aiolupo, known also as Andy Aiolupotea is a former Samoan rugby union player. He played as a fullback.
Tupo Fa'amasino is a former Samoan rugby union player. He played as a centre.
Mark Leslie Birtwistle is a New Zealand-born Samoan former rugby union footballer. He played as lock.
Afaesetiti Amosa is a Samoan rugby player for Aviron Bayonnais in France's Top 14, the highest level of French rugby. His primary position is number 8.
This article documents the statistics of the 2019 Rugby World Cup which was held in Japan from 20 September to 2 November.
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