Michael Ala'alatoa

Last updated

Michael Ala'alatoa
Michael Alaalatoa 2014.jpg
Ala'alatoa representing NSW Country Eagles during the National Rugby Championship
Full nameMichael Savea Ala'alatoa
Date of birth (1991-08-28) 28 August 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight132 kg (291 lb; 20 st 11 lb)
School Newington College
Notable relative(s) Vili Alaalatoa (father)
Allan Alaalatoa (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team Leinster
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2013 Southern Districts 15 (0)
2014–2015 West Harbour 38 (15)
2014–2015 Waratahs 1 (0)
2014 NSW Country Eagles 9 (0)
2015–2021 Manawatu 46 (20)
2016–2021 Crusaders 94 (28)
2021– Leinster 55 (25)
Correct as of 27 December 2023
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2011 Samoa U20 4 (0)
2019– Samoa 15 (0)
Correct as of 28 August 2023

Michael Savea Ala'alatoa (born 28 August 1991) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Leinster. Born in Australia, he represents Samoa at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

Born into a rugby household where father Vili was a member of the Samoa squad for the 1991 Rugby World Cup, Ala'alatoa was quickly introduced into the sporting world and played rugby, volleyball and cricket in his childhood.

Club career

Rugby was where he excelled and he played three years in the Newington College First XV. [3] He made his way through the ranks in the New South Wales Shute Shield, initially with Southern Districts and later West Harbour. Some impressive performances at that level saw him become a regular member of the Waratahs wider training squad in 2014. [1]

An injury to regular front-rower Paddy Ryan saw Alaalatoa called up to the Waratahs first team for the final round of league matches in the 2014 Super Rugby season. He made his debut as a second-half replacement in the Waratahs 34–3 victory over the Reds in Brisbane. [4]

Leading up to the 2015 ITM Cup Alaalatoa moved to New Zealand and signed to play for Manawatu [5] where he had a solid season that earned him a 2016 super rugby contract with the Crusaders [6]

It was announced on 12 April 2021 that Alaalatoa would be moving to Leinster to play Pro 14 and European Cup rugby starting in the 2021/22 season. [7]

International career

Alaalatoa was a member of the Samoa Under 20 side that competed in the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship. [8]

Alaalatoa was eligible to play international rugby for Samoa, Australia through birth and New Zealand through residency.

On 23 August 2019, he was named in Samoa's 34-man training squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, [9] before being named in the final 31 on 31 August. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ACT Brumbies</span> Australian rugby union team

The ACT Brumbies is an Australian professional rugby union team based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), The team competes in Super Rugby and named for the feral horses which inhabit the capital's hinterland. The team represents the ACT, as well as the Far South Coast and Southern Inland regions of New South Wales (NSW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Harbour RFC</span> Australian rugby union club, based in Concord, NSW

The West Harbour Rugby Football Club is a team in the Shute Shield, the premier club rugby union football competition in New South Wales. The club is based in Concord in the Inner West of Sydney, and plays home matches at Concord Oval. Concord holds a place in rugby history as a venue for the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987. West Harbour's major sponsor is Burwood RSL and post match functions are held at Club Burwood. In 2020, the Pirates would play out of Drummoyne Oval as Concord Oval being NRL club Wests Tigers' training ground, the venue was deemed off limited for people in excess of the "bubble".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocky Elsom</span> Australia international rugby union player

Rocky Elsom is a former Australian rugby union player. He played the positions of flanker and number eight. He was selected for 75 caps for Australia. He is the most capped Australian blindside flanker. Elsom was the 76th Australian test captain, having replaced Stirling Mortlock in 2009 for two years. He played for the Wallabies from 2005 until 2011. Elsom played professionally for New South Wales, Brumbies and Leinster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Ashley-Cooper</span> Australian rugby union player

Adam Ashley-Cooper is a former Australian rugby union player who last played for the LA Giltinis of Major League Rugby (MLR). He has won 121 caps for Australia, the third most of any Australia player at the time of his retirement. His nickname is "Mr. Versatile". He is currently the senior assistant coach for backs with the LA Giltinis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sekope Kepu</span> Rugby player

Sekope Kepu is an Australian professional rugby union player. He is a prop and currently plays for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He has previously played for Australian club New South Wales Waratahs, the French club Bordeaux, and London Irish. He also plays for Australia's Wallabies in international matches. Kepu made his international debut for Australia in 2008 and has been a regular in match-day squads ever since, now having played over 100 tests. Kepu is the most-capped prop to ever play for the Wallabies and is also one of the most-capped rugby players in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zac Guildford</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Zachary Robert Guildford is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player who played as a wing most notably for National Provincial Championship club Hawke's Bay and the New Zealand national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nemani Nadolo</span> Rugby player

Nemani Nadolo is a Fijian-Australian rugby union player. He currently plays for New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby, usually as a wing or centre, and the Fiji national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owen Franks</span> NZ international rugby union player

Owen Thomas Franks is a New Zealand rugby player who currently plays for Crusaders in the Super Rugby competition. His usual position is tighthead prop.

Tetera Faulkner is an Australian professional rugby union player. He currently represents the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super Rugby competition. His regular playing position is prop.

Jeffery Latu Toomaga-Allen is a rugby union footballer who previously played as a tighthead prop for Samoa, and for Ulster in the United Rugby Championship. He also previously played for Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup and the Hurricanes in Super Rugby. Toomaga-Allen has also played for New Zealand's international rugby team, the All Blacks, three times during his career. Toomaga-Allen is currently signed with the Queensland Reds until the end of 2025.

Lolagi Visinia is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a wing or fullback for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but has represented both New Zealand and Manu Samoa internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ofa Tuʻungafasi</span> Rugby player

Aniseto Ofa He Moori Tuʻungafasi is New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the All Blacks as a prop. He also plays for the Blues in Super Rugby and Northland in the Bunnings NPC.

Sa Jordan Taufua is a professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Top 14 club Lyon. Born in New Zealand, he represents Samoa at international level for which he qualifies on ancestry grounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ollie Hoskins (rugby union)</span> Australia international rugby union player

Ollie Hoskins is an Australian rugby union international player who started his career as a prop for the Western Force in Super Rugby and signed with London Irish in March 2016. When the club folded, Hoskins was signed by Saracens in June 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uini Atonio</span> French rugby union player

Uini Atonio is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Top 14 club La Rochelle. Born in New Zealand, he represents France at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.

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

Hugh Roach is an Australian rugby union professional player who plays hooker for the Chicago Hounds of Major League Rugby (MLR) in the United States. He also plays for the USA Perpignan of Top 14 (France).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allan Ala'alatoa</span> Australian rugby union player

Allan Ala'alatoa also known as Iam Tongi is an Australian rugby union professional player who plays as a prop for the Brumbies in Super Rugby and the Australian rugby union team, the Wallabies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Talakai</span> Rugby player

Sam Talakai, is an Australian rugby union player of Tongan descent. His usual position is Tighthead prop. He plays for Brisbane City in the National Rugby Championship, the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby and the Australian National Team, the Wallabies.

Tim Metcher, is an Australian rugby union player. His usual position is prop. As of 2018, he plays for U.S. team Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR). Metcher previously played for the Rebels in the Super Rugby competition.

Vili Ala'alatoa is a Samoan rugby union player. He plays as a prop. He played for West Harbour RFC, and then, for Manly RUFC

References

  1. 1 2 "Michael Alaalatoa Waratahs Player Profile". Waratahs Rugby. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  2. "Michael Alaalatoa Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  3. Newington College Rugby Association Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  4. "Reds vs Waratahs 12 July 2014 Match Breakdown". SA Rugby. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  5. "Prop Alaalatoa gives up Waratahs contract to play for Turbos".
  6. "Crusaders nab giant Manawatu tighthead prop Michael Alaalatoa".
  7. "Leinster sign Crusaders tighthead prop Michael Alaalatoa". Irish Times. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  8. "Michael Alaalatoa IRB JWC Player Profile". IRB.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  9. Airey, Thomas (23 August 2019). "Alalatoa headlines Manu Samoa pre-World Cup squad". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  10. "Two uncapped players in Samoa squad for Japan". rugbyworldcup.com. Rugby World Cup. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.