Talite Vaioleti

Last updated
Talite Vaioleti
Birth nameTalite Vaioleti
Date of birth (1980-11-13) November 13, 1980 (age 43)
Place of birth Haveluloto, Tonga
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight115 kg (254 lb)
SpouseEmma White
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C.
Youth career
2003-2005 Club Levengamalie
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
2013-
Royan
Hertford
Jersey
Wharfedale.
Rotherham
Jersey
Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C.
()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2005-
2005-
2010
Tonga
Tonga A
Barbarians
2

1
2

(10)

Talite Vaioleti (born 13 November 1980) is a Tongan rugby union player, born in Haveluloto, Tonga, [1] who plays for National League 1 side, Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C. [2] He is a utility player able to play as a Lock or in the Back Row. [3]

Contents

Career

Vaioleti started to play rugby for Club Levengamalie in 2003. [1] After a club tour to New Zealand, he was persuaded to turn professional and in 2005, [1] was selected to play for Tonga against France. While in France, he was approached to play club rugby in Europe. As a result of this, Vaioleti played one season with Royan in France. [4] From there along with some fellow Tongan players, he moved to England to play for Hertford in 2006. [4] In 2007, Vaioleti joined Jersey [5] where he became captain and led them to two promotions and a game at Twickenham Stadium in London. [4] In 2010, Vaioleti left Jersey to move to Wharfedale after a recommendation from fellow Tongan, Latu Makaafi. [5] After a season, in 2011 he moved to Rotherham Titans where despite making 8 appearances for them in the RFU Championship, due to a lack of starts he moved back to Jersey, who had just been promoted to the RFU Championship, in 2012. [6]

International career

Vaioleti has represented Tonga twice as well as appeared a number of times for Tonga A. In 2010 he received an invitation to represent The Barbarians under England national coach, Brian Ashton against a Forces XV where he scored two tries. [4]

Personal life

Vaioleti was married to a Jerseywoman named Catherine whom he met during his first stint at Jersey. [7] Vaioleti is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Between 2001 and 2003 he was a missionary in Australia. [1] In 2011, he was interviewed by the BBC for a radio programme about the haka. [8]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Spreading the Gospel through Sport" (PDF). LDS Church. 2010. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  2. "Talite Vaioleti". Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  3. Marshall, Bill (2010-08-05). "Tongan international signs for Greens". Craven Herald. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Interview with Talite Vaioleti from Tonga". Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions. 2011-05-06. Archived from the original on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  5. 1 2 "Talite Vaioleti to depart Jersey Rugby Club". BBC Sport. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  6. GMT (2012-05-28). "Former captain Talite Vaioleti returns to Jersey". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  7. "Siam stage is set". This Is Jersey. 2009-05-01. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. "Haka face-off: NZ All Blacks versus Tonga". BBC News. 2011-08-08. Retrieved 2013-01-02.