Fakahau Valu

Fakahau Valu
Birth nameFakahau Valu
Date of birth (1950-07-01) July 1, 1950 (age 74)
Place of birthFo'ui, Tongatapu. Tonga
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
SchoolTupou College
Notable relative(s)Asaeli Ai Valu (son)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
19??–19??
1973–1987		 Hihifo Rugby Club
Toloa Old Boys		 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1973–1987 Tonga 25 (24)
Coaching career
Years Team
1995 Tonga

Fakahau Valu (born July 1, 1950) is a former Tongan rugby union player. He played as a flanker.

Career

He made his debut against the Māori All Blacks in 1973. Valu captained Tonga at the 1987 Rugby World Cup, he played his last game against Ireland. He was a member of the Tongan squad that handed Australia a shocking 16–11 defeat on June 30, 1973, at Ballymore Stadium.[1]

He coached Tonga at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.[2]

After career

In 2009, Valu was inducted into IRB's Pathway of Fame.[3] In 2008, Valu was awarded with the Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III[4] and a year later, he was inducted to the Tongan National Sports Hall of Fame along with Kitione Lave, Paea Wolfgram, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, Tali Kavapalu and Motuliki Kailahi.[5] Valu is also a member of the organising committee for the 2019 Pacific Games.[6]

Personal life

His son, Asaeli Ai Valu is also a rugby union player, who represents Japan at international level.[7]

Honours

National honours

References

  1. ^ David Leggat & Dylan Cleaver (July 22, 2011). "Top 10 shock rugby upsets etched in the memory". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  2. ^ "RUGBY UNION". The Independent. April 18, 1995. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  3. ^ "Tonga Prime Minister in Wellington for rugby event to mark two years to World Cup kick off". Radio New Zealand. September 8, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  4. ^ "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangitonga. August 1, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  5. ^ "Seven named for the National Sports Hall of Fame". Matangitonga. December 8, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  6. ^ "Calls on Prime Minister and government to ease tensions over the future of the Pacific Games 2019 – TBC". Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  7. ^ "Live it TONGA : Son of Former National Rugby Player Fakahau Valu & Lioneti, now living in Japan". www.facebook.com. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  8. ^ "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. August 1, 2008. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2022.