Sione Vatuvei

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Sione Vatuvei
Vatuvei Sione 210227b.jpg
Sione in 2021
Full nameSione Talikavili Vatuvei
Date of birth (1983-03-14) 14 March 1983 (age 40)
Place of birth Nukuʻalofa, Tonga
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight100 kg (15 st 10 lb; 220 lb)
School Nelson College
Notable relative(s) Luatangi Vatuvei (brother), Manu Vatuvei (cousin)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Youth career
2004–2008 Takushoku University
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2008–2014 Sanyo/Panasonic Wild Knights 57 (75)
2014–2018 Toyota Industries Shuttles 36 (45)
2018–present Kubota Spears 9 (5)
Correct as of 21 February 2021
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2010–2011 Japan 8 (10)
Correct as of 7 December 2016

Sione Talikavili Vatuvei [1] (born 14 March 1983), also known by his middle name Talikavili or Kavili, is a Tongan-born Japanese rugby union footballer. He represented Japan at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. [2] His preferred position is blindside flanker.

He plays in the Top League for Toyota Industries Shuttles [3] in Kariya Aichi where he currently resides.

Vatuvei was educated at Nelson College in New Zealand between 1999 and 2001. [4] He is the youngest brother of former Japanese Rugby union footballer Luatangi Vatuvei. He is also the cousin of former Tongan-New Zealand Rugby league player Manu Vatuvei.

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References

  1. "ESPN Rugby Stats". ESPN. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  2. Van der berg, Wim (28 September 2012). The Extraordinary Book of South African Rugby. ISBN   9780143529170.
  3. "Toyota Shokki Shuttles" . Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  4. "Full school list of Nelson College, 1856–2005". Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006 (CD-ROM) (6th ed.). 2006.