Waisake Naholo
| Full name | Waisake Ratunideuba Naholo | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 May 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Sigatoka, Fiji | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb) | ||
| School | Cuvu College Wanganui City College | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Wing | ||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2015– | Clermont Auvergne | 0 | (0) |
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2009 2011–14 |
Wanganui Taranaki |
11 31 |
(30) (70) |
| correct as of 26 February 2015. | |||
| Super Rugby | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2013 2015 |
Blues Highlanders |
2 8 |
(5) (35) |
| correct as of 18 April 2015. | |||
| Sevens national teams | |||
| Years | Club / team | Comps | |
| 2012 | New Zealand | 5 | |
| correct as of 12 May 2012. | |||
Waisake Ratunideuba Naholo (born 8 May 1991 Sigatoka, Fiji) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays in the wing (and occasionally centre) position for the Dunedin based Super Rugby franchise the Highlanders,[1] and for New Zealand's rugby sevens international side the All Blacks Sevens.
A former New Zealand under-20 rep, Naholo has played in 5 Sevens World Series tournaments, and featured in Gordon Tietjens squad to take part at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens. Naholo earned himself a Blues contract after a superb ITM Cup season in 2012. Starting on the wing, he became a regular try-scoring threat. At provincial level he began his career with Wanganui before making the switch to Taranaki in 2011.[2]
Domestic career
At just 18 Naholo was playing provincial rugby, playing the 2009 Heartland Championship with Wanganui, he was contracted and appeared in eleven matches and recorded six tries while still at school.[3] In 2011, Naholo moved north to Taranaki. He made his debut for the side, when he started on the wing against Wellington in week one of the competition. He played mainly on the wing throughout the season, featuring in five matches with the only one game coming off the bench. He also became a member of the Hurricanes wider training group for 2012.
In 2012, Naholo continued to be a key contributor for Taranaki, playing the season's first two Ranfurly Shield matches against King Country and Wanganui. He played his second consecutive ITM Cup season for Taranaki. Naholo started the season scoring a solo try taking the ball from a lineout on half way and easily beating Bay of Plenty defenders to score untouched.[4] He ended the season with a total of eight matches and five tries, enough to earn him a Super Rugby contract with the Blues.[5]
After an impressive showing in the ITM Cup, Naholo earned his first Super Rugby start in the Blues 21–28 loss to the Bulls in Round 4 of the 2013 Super Rugby season.[6] He had the only one appearance after against the Highlanders finishing with a try
In February 2015, he signed a 2 year contract with French Top 14 club, ASM Clermont Auvergne. He will join the club at the end of the 2015 Super Rugby season. [7]
International career
Naholo was selected in the New Zealand Sevens team to prepare for the 2012 IRB World Series in Wellington, making his international rugby debut at Westpac Stadium.[8] Naholo also played for the New Zealand U20 side that defended its World U20 championship crown in Italy in 2011.[9]
References
- ↑ "Waisake Naholo Blues Profile". Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- ↑ "Waisake Naholo Taranaki Profile". Retrieved 16 February 2013.
- ↑ "Your homework? Score tries for Wanganui". Wanganui Chronicle. APN. 17 June 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- ↑ "Waisake Naholo scores a brilliant try in Taranaki’s win over Bay of Plenty 37-22". 29 August 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ↑ "Blues sign four players from Canes territory". Fairfax. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ↑ "Blues will give young guns a shot". Fairfax. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ↑ Baleilevuka, Rusiate (27 February 2015). "Naholo agrees to Clermont deal". Fiji Village. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ↑ "O'Donnell, Naholo new faces in sevens squad". 27 January 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ↑ "Waisake Naholo IRB Profile". Retrieved 11 March 2013.
External links
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