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Telusa Veainu

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Telusa Veainu
Birth nameKoloti Telusa Pelaki Veainu[1]
Date of birth(1990-12-26)26 December 1990(age 33)
Place of birthKawakawa,New Zealand
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb; 187 lb)
SchoolSt Andrew's College
Notable relative(s)Langi Veainu(sister)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Outside Back
Current team Doncaster Knights
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2012 Canterbury 34 (105)
2011–2012 Highlanders 4 (0)
2013 Hawke's Bay 11 (35)
2013 Crusaders 4 (5)
2014 Melbourne Rising 6 (43)
2014–2015 Rebels 7 (15)
2015–2020 Leicester Tigers 80 (160)
2020–2023 Stade Français 42 (50)
2023–2024 Sale Sharks 7 (5)
2024– Doncaster Knights 0 (0)
2010– Total 145 (363)
Correct as of 21 January 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010 New Zealand U20
2015- Tonga 12 (40)
Correct as of 13 October 2019

Koloti Telusa Pelaki Veainu(born 26 December 1990)[1]is arugby unionplayer. He plays atfullbackor on thewingforDoncaster Knights.He was born and raised in New Zealand, but he representsTongainternationally. He is known for his speed, elusiveness and strength from fullback, earning him a place inWill Greenwood'sDaily Telegraphteam of the year for 2016/17.[2]

Club career

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Provincial Rugby

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Born inKawakawa,New Zealand,Veainu went toSt Andrew's CollegeinChristchurchwhere in his final year of school he was made captain of the 1st XV. He was a regular in Canterbury age group sides over the years, making the under 16's, 18's and 19's whilst still at school. Veainu was a star on the wing for the NZ U-20s at the World Cup in Argentina where he scored five tries (including three in the final).

Selected to theCanterburysquad for the2010 ITM Cup,Veainu made his debut off the bench againstHawke's Bayand subsequently started in every match, scoring eight tries asCanterburywon the championship. Playing with Canterbury again for the2011 ITM Cup,Veainu scored a further 5 tries in 11 games, in the process helping Canterbury win their fourth consecutive title.

For the2013 ITM Cup,Veainu moved north to joinHawke's Bayand scored 7 tries in 11 matches for the Magpies.

Following his move to Australia to join theMelbourne Rebels,Veainu turned out for theMelbourne Risingin 2014, scoring 8 tries from just 6 starts.

Super Rugby

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After a solidITM Cup seasonin 2010, Veainu received a contract to play for theHighlandersfor the2011 Super Rugby season.He made his debut in the Highlanders win over theBullsin week 3 of the competition. He was again named in the Highlanders squad for2012,but did not appear in any matches.

For the2013 Super Rugby seasonVeainu returned to his home province to sign with theCrusaders,but again struggled to duplicate his ITM Cup form, appearing in only 4 games as a substitute. His season, however, was highlighted by his first Super Rugby try against the Highlanders, his former squad, on 29 June.

On 17 September 2013, Veainu signed with theMelbourne Rebelsfor the2014[3]and 2015 seasons. In May 2014, playing on the wing, he scored a runaway try for the Rebels in their loss to the Waratahs at home in Melbourne.[4][5]

Super Rugby statistics

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As of 15 June 2015
Season Team Games Starts Sub Mins Tries Cons Pens Drops Points Yel Red
2011 Highlanders 5 1 4 119 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012 Highlanders 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2013 Crusaders 4 0 4 28 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
2014 Rebels 5 2 3 217 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
2015 Rebels 2 0 2 66 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
Total 16 3 13 430 4 0 0 0 20 0 0

Leicester Tigers

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It was confirmed on 28 October 2015 that Veainu has joinedEnglish PremiershipteamLeicester Tigers.[6]He made his debut atWelford RoadagainstWaspson 1 November scoring a try as Leicester won 24–16.[7]Veainu quickly became a fan favourite and signed a contract extension on 11 January 2016.[8]He won both newcomer of the year and player of the year in his first season in Leicester.[9]

Veainu was awarded try of the week in Week 16 for his try againstSaracens.[10]His form in 2017/18 saw Veainu named as theRugby Players' AssociationPlayers' Player of the year.[11]He left ahead of the 2020–21 season.[12]

Stade Français

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He joinedStade Françaisahead of the 2020–21 season.[13]

Sale Sharks

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On 30 May 2023, Veainu returns to England to join Premiership rivalsSale Sharksfor the 2023-24 season.[14]

Doncaster Knights

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On 9 September 2024, Veainu signs forDoncaster Knightsin the second-tierRFU Championshipseason for the 2024-25 season.[15]

International career

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Veainu played for theNew Zealand U20at the age of 18 and 19, but in 2015 he was selected forTongafor the2015 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.He made his debut in the opening match againstFiji,scoring a try.

Veainu was selected for Tonga's 31-man squad to attend the2019 Rugby World Cup,by Head Coach,Toutai Kefu.Veainu was Tonga's top try-scorer of the tournament, scoring three tries in total, two against Argentina and one in a two-point deficit to France.

References

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  1. ^ab"Telusa Veainu".ESPNscrum.Retrieved6 August2016.
  2. ^"Will Greenwood's Aviva Premiership team of the season".The Telegraph.Retrieved12 September2017.
  3. ^Rebels Media Unit (17 September 2013)."Rebels sign Telusa Veainu"(Press release). Melbourne Rebels.Retrieved19 October2013.
  4. ^Rebels Media Unit (23 May 2014)."Waratahs waltz past Rebels"(Press release). Melbourne Rebels.Retrieved23 May2014.
  5. ^Waratahs Media Unit (24 May 2014)."Waratahs hand Rebels a drubbing"(Press release). Waratahs.Retrieved24 May2014.
  6. ^Communications at Leicester Tigers (28 October 2015)."Tigers sign Telusa Veainu"(Press release). Leicester Tigers.Retrieved28 October2015.
  7. ^"Veainu touches down on Leicester debut".ESPNsrcum.com. 1 November 2016.Retrieved6 August2016.
  8. ^Communications at Leicester Tigers (11 January 2016)."Tigers sign Telusa Veainu"(Press release). Leicester Tigers. Archived fromthe originalon 15 August 2016.Retrieved6 August2016.
  9. ^"Supporters honour their Players of the Year".Leicester Tigers. 27 April 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 1 July 2016.Retrieved6 August2016.
  10. ^"Citizen Try of the Week – (Round 16 Winner)".Archivedfrom the original on 21 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  11. ^"Telusa Veainu wins RPA POTY, Marcus Smith and Sir Clive Woodward also honoured".ESPN. 10 May 2018.Retrieved10 May2018.
  12. ^"Leicester Tigers: Manu Tuilagi & Kyle Eastmond leave Premiership club".BBC Sport. 1 July 2020.Retrieved2 July2020.
  13. ^"Telusa Veainu et Gerbrandt Grobler vers le Stade Français – Rugby – Transferts".L'Équipe(in French).Retrieved7 July2020.
  14. ^"Sharks agree Veainu deal".Sale Sharks.30 May 2023.Retrieved21 September2024.
  15. ^"Tonga international Telusa Veainu becomes a Knight!".DRFC. 9 September 2024.Retrieved9 September2024.
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