Tafito Lafaele
Date of birth (2001-02-17) 17 February 2001
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight87 kg (192 lb)
SchoolBotany Downs Secondary College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Papatoetoe (0)
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019– Auckland Storm 6 (10)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022 Blues Women 2 (0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022 New Zealand 2 (0)

Tafito Lafaele (born 17 February 2001) is a New Zealand rugby union player. She made her Black Ferns test debut in 2022. She plays for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Auckland provincially.

Background

Lafaele attended Botany Downs Secondary College where she participated in athletics, volleyball, basketball, netball and sevens.[1][2]

Rugby career

2019–21

Lafaele debuted for the Auckland Storm in the 2019 Farah Palmer Cup.[1][2] In 2021 she played for the Moana Pasifika Sevens team against the Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens.[1][3]

On 3 November 2021, Lafaele was named in the Blues squad for the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki competition.[4][5] She was named in the Blues starting line up for their first game against Matatū, they won 21–10.[6][7] She also started in their 0–35 thrashing by the Chiefs Manawa in the final round.[8][9]

2022

Lafaele was named in the Black Ferns squad for the 2022 Pacific Four Series.[10][11] She made her international debut on 6 June against Australia at Tauranga at the Pacific Four Series.[12][13] She was recalled into the team for the August test series against the Wallaroos for the Laurie O'Reilly Cup.[14][15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 McConnell, Lynn (24 May 2022). "Rapid rise for new Black Ferns flanker Tafito Lafaele". allblacks.com. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Black Ferns cap for Lafaele". Times. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  3. ↑ Von Dincklage, Vaelei. "First-ever Moana Pasifika 7s women rugby team did great". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "nib Blues Super Rugby Aupiki 2022 Squad". Blues Rugby. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  5. ↑ "Exciting nib Blues Super Rugby Aupiki Squad Announced". Blues Rugby. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  6. ↑ "Long wait over as nib Blues set for Sky Super Rugby Aupiki debut". superrugby.co.nz. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Burnes, Campbell (15 March 2022). "Blues full of merit in downing Matatū". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "Experienced pair return for key clash for nib Blues". superrugby.co.nz. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  9. ↑ Burnes, Campbell (20 March 2022). "Chiefs Manawa crowned Sky Super Rugby Aupiki champs". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  10. ↑ "31-strong Black Ferns squad named for home June Test series". allblacks.com. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  11. ↑ "Seven debutants, new captain: Black Ferns name first squad of the year". NZ Herald. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  12. ↑ Burnes, Campbell (5 June 2022). "PREVIEW: Black Ferns v Wallaroos (Tauranga)". allblacks.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  13. ↑ "Black Ferns named for first Test of Pacific Four Series". allblacks.com. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Black Ferns named for O'Reilly Cup Test series". allblacks.com. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  15. ↑ Brown, Roger (15 August 2022). "2022 Laurie O'Reilly Cup Black Ferns Vs Wallaroos " When Does It Start, Live Streams And Schedule"". thedailyrugby.com. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
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