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Nafi Tuitavake

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Nafi Tuitavake
Date of birth(1989-01-21)21 January 1989(age 35)
Place of birthAuckland,New Zealand
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight95 kg (14 st 13 lb; 209 lb)
SchoolMassey High School
Notable relative(s)Anthony Tuitavake(brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre,Wing
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2013
2016–
Agen
Northampton Saints
11
15
(0)
(10)
Correct as of 7 June 2017
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2014 North Harbour 76 (115)
Correct as of 7 June 2017
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014 Crusaders 20 (5)
Correct as of 7 June 2017
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016- Tonga 13 (0)
Correct as of 11 September 2019
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2008 New Zealand

Nafi Tuitavake(born 21 January 1989)[1]is a New Zealand Rugby union player who plays for theVodacom Blue Bullsin theSuper rugby competition.[2]He is the younger brother of formerAll BlackwingerAnthony Tuitavake.

He was named in theCrusadersfive-man wider training group for 2014.[3]

On 21 September 2016, Nafi sign professional contract with English clubNorthampton Saintsin theAviva Premiershipfrom the 2016–17 season.[4]

Tuitavake made some good appearances in Saints' second side the Northampton Wanderers, before being drafted into the first team as the wider squad suffered with injuries. The Tonga centre thrived and secured a place in the first team quickly and most recently helped his side secureEuropean Champions Cuprugby for the 2017/18 season as the side beatStade Francaisby just one point.[5]

Tuitavake will travel with Tonga for their 2017 summer internationals, battling with fellow Pacific Island nations, and Saints teammates, for aRugby World Cupqualification for the 2019 competition. At the end of the 2018/19 season, Tuitivake was released by the Northampton Saints.

He gained selection to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and made just one appearance, against England, before being sent home with a fractured arm.

Career highlights

[edit]
  • North Harbour ITM CUP 2010
  • New Zealand U20 2009
  • New Zealand Sevens 2008
  • North Harbour U21 2007
  • North Harbour U19 2006
  • North Harbour U16 2005

References

[edit]
  1. ^TVNZ player profile of Nafi Tuitavake
  2. ^"Nafi Tuitavake joins the Vodacom Bulls".Bulls Rugby. 22 January 2020.Retrieved26 February2022.
  3. ^"Crusaders – The 2014 squad"(PDF).All Blacks. 30 October 2013.Retrieved29 October2013.
  4. ^"Northampton sign Tonga centre Nafi Tuitavake".BBC Sport. 21 September 2016.Retrieved26 September2016.
  5. ^"16/17 Northampton Saints v Stade Francais | European Cup".