Talite Vaioleti
| Personal information | |||||||
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| Full name | Talite Vaioleti | ||||||
| Date of birth | November 13, 1980 | ||||||
| Place of birth | Havelulotu, Tonga | ||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||
| Weight | 115kg | ||||||
| Spouse(s) | Catherine | ||||||
| Club information | |||||||
| Position(s) | Lock | ||||||
| Current club | Jersey | ||||||
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* Professional club appearances and points counted for domestic first grade only. | |||||||
Talite Vaioleti (born 13 November 1980) is a Tongan rugby union player, born in Havelulotu, Tonga,[1] who plays for RFU Championship side, Jersey.[2] He is a utility player able to play as a Lock or in the Back Row.[3]
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 is 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]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Spreading the Gospel through Sport". LDS Church. 2010. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ↑ "Player profiles". Jersey RFC. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ↑ Marshall, Bill (2010-08-05). "Tongan international signs for Greens". Craven Herald. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Interview with Talite Vaioleti from Tonga". Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions. 2011-05-06. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Talite Vaioleti to depart Jersey Rugby Club". BBC Sport. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ↑ GMT (2012-05-28). "Former captain Talite Vaioleti returns to Jersey". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ↑ "Siam stage is set". This Is Jersey. 2009-05-01. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ↑ "Haka face-off: NZ All Blacks versus Tonga". BBC News. 2011-08-08. Retrieved 2013-01-02.