Birth name | Michael Zavala Harley Kainga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 28 January 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Hawke's Bay, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 187 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 116 kg (18 st 4 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Taita College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Michael "Mike" Zavala Harley Kainga (born 28 January 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player who last played for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the ITM Cup. [1] He signed for Taranaki to play in the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup. [2] [3] [4] [5] His position of choice is prop.
His impressive domestic performances for Bay of Plenty saw him named in the Chiefs Wider Training Squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season. [6] He made three appearances for the franchise.
He was called into the Hurricanes Wider Training Squad in 2016, he then gained 4 caps including playing in the 2016 Super Rugby season final.
Kainga was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 side which won the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship. He played in 4 games during the tournament, 1 start and 3 substitute appearances. [7]
Kainga is a New Zealander of Māori descent (Ngāti Kahungunu descent). [8]
Colin Gary Cooper is a New Zealand professional rugby union coach and former player. He is the former head coach of the Chiefs. Cooper is a NPC champion and two-time Ranfurly Shield holder, winning with the Taranaki union as a head coach. Cooper has coached the Māori All Blacks to three undefeated tours and won the IRB U21 World Cup with the New Zealand under-21 side. He also accomplished 101 games played for Taranaki.
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