Uale Mai

Uale Mai Vala
Uale Mai in Fiji.
Date of birth 20 July 1978 (1978-07-20) (age 33)
Place of birth Samoa
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 88 kg (190 lb)
Rugby union career
Current status
Position(s) Fly half
current team CR El Salvador
Playing career
Position Fly half
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
 Samoa
Sevens national teams
Years Club / team Comps
 Samoa

Uale Mai Vala (born July 20, 1978) is a rugby union player and currently plays for the country's national teams, Manu Samoa and Samoa Sevens. He is a former captain of the Samoa Sevens team which represent Samoa internationally in the IRB Sevens World Series. He is Sevens rugby's most capped player and is considered one of the greats in the international sport.[1] In 2010 he has joined the CR El Salvador.[2]

Mai was the first Samoan to be awarded the IRB International Sevens Player of the Year which he received for the 2005–06 World Sevens Series. The ceremony took place in Glasgow's historic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Britain on 26 November 2006. He was also awarded Player of the Tournament at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2007.[3]Mikaele Pesamino received the award in 2010.

In 2009, Mai took a short break from the Samoa Sevens team but returned in 2010 under new coach Stephen Betham. The team currently leads the 2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series.[4]

Mai is from Vailoa village in Palauli district on the island of Savai'i.[3]

Career

Mai has been one of the top try and points scorer in the IRB World Sevens Series. He is also an exciting talent who is comfortable at Fly Half and Scrum Half at 15 a side rugby, where he represents Samoa in the national Manu Samoa. In 2008 he was awarded the Samoan Senior Player of the Year as well as receiving a nomination for the IRB International Sevens Player of the Year. Mai is represented by the MC Sports Agency.

References

  1. ^ "Mai returns as squads declared for NZI Sevens". International Rugby Board, News. 4 February 2010. http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/edition=3/news/newsid=2035583.html. Retrieved 2 April 2010. 
  2. ^ "Uale Mai Internacional Samoano nuevo apertura del Cetransa El Salvador". Cetransa El Salvador, News. 9 September 2010. http://www.rugbycetransaelsalvador.com/Cetransa/Noticias/displayNews/93be6d3d2b1053b86992c2144c6b1690/5997841a40b0e31dfacec4bd9f90ff74/. Retrieved 9 September 2010. 
  3. ^ a b "Manu Samoa 7s". Samoa Rugby Union. http://www.samoarugbyunion.ws/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=87. Retrieved 2 April 2010. 
  4. ^ "Samoa win Hong Kong Sevens to take lead in World Series". The Guardian. 28 March 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/mar/28/samoa-hong-kong-sevens. Retrieved 2 April 2010. 

External links