Afusipa Taumoepeau
Taumoepeau representing the Brumbies during the Super 14
Full nameAfusipa Faha Ivalu Taumoepeau
Date of birth (1990-01-26) 26 January 1990
Place of birthSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb)
SchoolSt. Joseph's College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing
Current team Perpignan
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2010 Brumbies 10 (0)
2011 Rebels 11 (10)
2011–2014 Pau 55 (35)
2014–2016 Albi 51 (60)
2016–2018 Castres 50 (20)
2018– Perpignan 105 (90)
Correct as of 28 August 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009 Australia U20 5 (5)
2021– Tonga 13 (5)
Correct as of 28 August 2023
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2021 Tonga 1
Correct as of 28 August 2023

Afusipa Faha Ivalu Taumoepeau (born 26 January 1990) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Top 14 club Perpignan. Born in Australia, he represents Tonga at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.[1]

Club career

Taumoepeau was schooled at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill[2] and represented Australia at under 20 level, and as part of the Australian Sevens.[1]

He made his debut for the Brumbies in the 2008 Super 14 season,[1] at aged 18. He spent three seasons with the Brumbies.[3] In October 2010 he signed to the Melbourne Rebels and became the Rebels 32nd squad member.[2][4] Playing in a trial, in preparation for the 2011 Super Rugby season in a pre-season match against Tonga at Olympic Park, Taumoepeau scored a try and earned the honour of scoring the Rebels' first ever pre-season points.[3]

In 2011 he joined French team Pau in the French second division (Pro D2) where he stayed 3 years. He then signed for Albi in the same division for 2 years. In 2016 he joined Castres, in the French Top 14 league. On 2 June 2018 he became a Top 14 champion, Castres beating Montpellier in the final. On 5 June he joined Perpignan, still in the Top 14, for a 3 year contract.

He is not the only one involved with rugby in his family. He has an older brother, Pauliasi Taumoepeau who captained both the St Joseph's College 1st XV and Australian Schoolboys in 2004 and who later played for Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union in Sydney.[5]

Taumoepeau made his test debut for Tonga on 7 November 2021 as part of a 69-3 loss to England during the 2021 Autumn Nations Series[6]

Honours

Castres

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Taumoepeau, Afusipa". CA Brumbies. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
  2. 1 2 Rebels Media Unit (30 September 2010). "Melbourne Rebels Sign Talented Young Utility Back" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  3. 1 2 Rebels Media Unit (9 February 2011). "Afusipa Taumoepeau" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  4. ↑ ARU (1 October 2010). "Melbourne Rebels sign former Brumbies youngster" (Press release). Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  5. ↑ St Joseph's College school magazine 2004
  6. ↑ "England claim 11-try win against Tonga". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  7. ↑ "Castres stun Montpellier to claim Top 14 title". planetrugby.com. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
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