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| Date of birth | 14 September 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Mont-de-Marsan, France | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 135 kg (298 lb; 21 st 4 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Willy Taofifénua (father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Romain Taofifénua (born 14 September 1990) is a French professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Top 14 club Racing 92 and the France national team. [1]
Taofifénua's rugby career began in 2005, while playing for Limoges. He later moved to play for Clermont in the 2007–08 Top 14 season. However, Taofifénua failed to make any appearances for the senior side, and signed with USA Perpignan for the 2008–09 Top 14 season. Despite signing in 2008, he didn't receive his first appearance for the club until 20 August 2010, during the 2010–11 Top 14 season. In that season, he made 3 appearances for Perpignan. In the 2011–12 Top 14 season, he became a more consistent player in the team, making 23 starts in 28 appearances. Most notable, a 34–20 win against defending champions Toulouse. After the 2013–14 Top 14 season, where Perpignan were relegated, Taofifénua signed with Toulon, who were both European and Domestic champions. His first Toulon appearance came on 15 August 2014 against Bayonne, in a 29–15 victory.
Romain has played in all age grade levels for France, having represented the U18s, U19s and U20s. It was when playing for the U20s in the 2009 Six Nations Under 20s Championship when he first caught the eye of Perpignan selectors. Haven performed well for Perpignan in 2010, he was selected for the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship, playing in 3 matches - against Ireland and Argentina twice. He was one of five try scorers in the 5th place play-off, whom was won by France 37–23. [2]
Taofifénua was selected for the French senior side for their 2012 tour to Argentina, and made his first appearance in an uncapped game for XV du Président against Serge Betsen's XV on 6 June 2012. [3] He made his first official test appearance a week later, coming off the bench for Yoann Maestri in the 74th minute.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 February 2015 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland |  Ireland | 18–11 | 18–11 | 2015 Six Nations |
| 2 | 14 February 2021 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France |  Wales | 5–0 | 32–30 | 2021 Six Nations |
| 3 | 10 March 2024 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | Wales | 24–35 | 24–45 | 2024 Six Nations |
Taofifénua is the son of Willy Taofifénua who used to play for FC Grenoble, and the older brother of Sébastien Taofifénua, who also started his career with Union Sportive Arlequins Perpignan. He is of Wallisian heritage. [4]
Union Sportive Arlequins Perpignanais, also referred to as USA Perpignan or Perpignan, is a French professional rugby union club founded in 1933 and based in Perpignan, in the Pyrénées-Orientales department. They compete in the Top 14, France's elite division of rugby.
Felipe Contepomi is an Argentine professional rugby coach who is currently the head coach of the Argentine national side.
Frédéric Michalak is a former French rugby union footballer. His early career was spent playing for his hometown team, Toulouse, in the Top 14 and in the Heineken Cup. He moved to South Africa to play for the Sharks in the Super 14 after the 2007 Rugby World Cup, but after just one year with the Sharks he moved back to Toulouse. He has also played over 70 tests for France to date, and is the country's leading Test point scorer, achieving that milestone in 2015. Michalak originally played scrum-half but has played mainly at fly-half. He has appeared in advertisements for companies such as Nike and Levi's.
Martín Leandro Castrogiovanni is an Italian-Argentine retired rugby union player. He was born in Paraná, Argentina, but qualified for Italy through his heritage. Castrogiovanni moved to Italy as a teenager and represented the Italian national team 119 times over 14 years. In Italy he played for Calvisano between 2001 and 2006, before moving to England to play for Leicester Tigers where he played 145 games over seven seasons, winning four Premiership Rugby titles. In 2013 he moved to Toulon where he won a Heineken Cup, before finishing his career with Racing 92 in Paris.
Sergio Francesco Parisse is an Italian former rugby union player. He is currently the lineout coach for French club Toulon. He played for the Italy national team from 2002 until the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Parisse is Italy's most-capped player, and currently the fourth most-capped player of all time. He was the first Italian rugby union player to be nominated for the IRB International Player of the Year, in 2008 and again in 2013. Parisse is widely considered one of the greatest number eights of the modern era, and the greatest Italian rugby player of all time. He also holds the joint record of playing in five Rugby World Cups.
Isaia "Ice" Toeava is a former professional rugby union player from New Zealand. He was a part of the 2007 Rugby World Cup and World Cup winning 2011 Rugby World Cup squads for New Zealand.
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Ramiro Pez is an Italian Argentine rugby union footballer who normally plays at fly-half. In 2008-09, he joined the newly promoted French Top 14 club Toulon, having been signed from Venezia Mestre in the Italian Super 10 competition.
Damien Chouly is a former French rugby union footballer. He played for Brive, Perpignan, and Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14, commonly in the Number 8 position.
Guilhem Guirado is a former French rugby union player. During his 17-year career, he played for Perpignan, Toulon, and Montpellier. Guirado was also the captain of France from 2016 to 2019.
Wenceslas Lauret is a rugby union footballer, who plays for Racing 92 in the Top 14 French league. His usual position is flanker, but he can also play Lock.
Cornell du Preez is a South African-born Scottish rugby union player. He currently plays as a loose forward for Toulon in the Top 14 and represented Scotland internationally.
Ian Madigan is an Irish former professional rugby union player for Leinster, Bordeaux, Bristol Bears, Ulster and Ireland. His primary position was at fly-half, although he also played at centre and full-back.
Wandile Gabada Mjekevu is a South African rugby union player who plays as a center or a wing for Sporting Club Albigeois in the French Top 14 competition.
John Joseph Hanrahan is an Irish rugby union player who plays for Connacht in the United Rugby Championship. He plays primarily as a fly-half, but can also play as a centre or fullback.
Eddy Ben Arous is a French rugby union player of Nigerian descent who plays prop for Top 14 side Racing 92.
Mathieu Raynal is a former professional rugby union referee. He officiated at the highest level in the Top 14, European club rugby, and was on the World Rugby referee panel.
Teddy Thomas is a French international rugby union player who plays on the wing for La Rochelle in the Top 14.
Ramiro Moyano is an Argentine rugby union player who plays for the national Argentina team The Pumas and most recently at club level for Edinburgh Rugby in the United Rugby Championship. Moyano mostly plays as a full-back but has on occasions played wing.
Sébastien Taofifénua is a French rugby union player. His position is Prop and he currently plays for Toulon in the Top 14. He began his career at USA Perpignan.
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