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While playing rugby in New Zealand, Vito was a member of amateur rugby Marist St Pats in Wellington,[4] and was a prominent player in the 2009 Wellington Lions. In 2010 he started for the Hurricanes Super 14 team and was named in the All Blacks extended squad for the first tests of the year.[3]
During an interview with the ZM FM Morning Crew, Vito described his new position in the All Blacks as "a really really awesome promotion."[5]
In 2010, he was bestowed the matai title of Leaupepetele[6] in the village of Fasito'outa. Vito was in the All Blacks camp, preparing for his test debut off the bench against Ireland, when his mother Luma'ava Leaupepe-Timoteo returned to their village in Samoa to accept the passing of the title.[7]
It is one of Samoa's highest honours, and was bestowed by Leaupepe Tele to the eldest sons of his respective children: Vito and three of his cousins.[6]
"My grandfather holds the highest title in Fasito'o Uta and he's getting on now and he needed to pass it on to keep the name in the family," Vito explained.[7][6]
Vito, despite inexperience compared to other players was selected for the 2011 Rugby World Cup over Liam Messam, and was again selected for the 2015 Rugby World Cup where he played as a substitute for the knockout stages, becoming one of only 20 players to have been part of multiple World Cup-winning sides.
His last appearance for the All Blacks was the game against Australia at Twickenham on 31 October 2015, where the All Blacks won the Webb Ellis Cup for the third time and second consecutive time. Vito announced his move to La Rochelle in France after the final, meaning his 2016 Super Rugby campaign would be his last.
In the final of the 2016 Super Rugby final Vito played in his 100th and final game for the Hurricanes.[8] The Hurricanes won the title, beating the Lions from South Africa.
Vito currently plays for Top 14 Rugby Team Stade Rochelais where he won the French Top 14 Player of the Year award in 2017. He was also a nominee for EPCR European Player of The Year in 2018, helping his team to their first Champions cup season and Quarter-Final playoff.[9][10]
