Ta'u Fainga'anuku

Ta'u Fainga'anuku
Full nameMalakai Ta'ufo'ou Fainga'anuku[1]
Date of birth (1972-07-14) 14 July 1972 (age 52)
Place of birthKiltifo, Haʻapai, Tonga
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight269 lb (122 kg)
Notable relative(s)Leicester Fainga'anuku (son)
Tima Fainga'anuku (son)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1999–2001 Tonga 12 (5)

Malakai Ta'ufo'ou Fainga'anuku (born 14 July 1972) is a Tongan former rugby union international.[2]

Fainga'anuku, a prop, featured in 12 Test matches for Tonga from 1999 to 2001. He played in all of Tonga's matches at the 1999 Rugby World Cup, including a famous win over Italy. The next day, he had a son born back in Tonga who was given his name Leicester from the city that had hosted the Italy match. Not long after the World Cup, Fainga'anuku immigrated with his family to New Zealand and he played some rugby for Counties Manukau.[3] His son Leicester has since debuted for the All Blacks and another son Tima has been capped for Tonga.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tongans spell trouble - if only on paper". The Daily Telegraph. 6 October 1999.
  2. ^ "Marinos' men restore Welsh pride". BBC News. 13 November 2001.
  3. ^ "New-look Counties Manukau team take on Italy". NZ Herald. 2 October 2023.
  4. ^ Doel, Jon (1 July 2022). "All Blacks name player called Leicester Ofa Ki Wales Twickenham Fainga'anuku". WalesOnline.