Date of birth (1963-02-04) 4 February 1963
Place of birthMata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna
Height1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight112 kg (247 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Back row
Current team -
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
????-1992
1992-2001		 France Mont-de-Marsan
France Grenoble		 ()
Coaching career
Years Team
2001-2005
2005-2008
2008-2009		 France Grenoble
France Limoges
England Harlequins

Willy Taofifénua (born 4 February 1963) is a former French rugby player. He played as a flanker for FC Grenoble.

Taofifénua is originally from Wallis and Futuna.

Player and Manager

Both Willy and his brother Jean-Jacques Taofifénua played rugby for FC Grenoble.

Taofifénua featured in the defeat to Castres Olympique, in a final said to be one of the worst-ever scandals in French rugby. Despite their overpowering pack "the Mammoths of Grenoble"[1] lost 14–11.[2] A try by Grenoble's Olivier Brouzet was denied,[3] then the referee Daniel Salles awarded the decisive try to Gary Whetton, although Grenoble defender Franck Hueber was first to touch down the ball. This ruling gave the title to Castres.[4] Referee Salles admitted 13 years later that he was in error.[5][6][7] FC Grenoble coach Jacques Fouroux accused the Federation of a conspiracy, claiming that he had been suspicious of the referee even before the match.[8][9]

In 1999, Taofifénua received a 28-day ban for punching Edinburgh Reivers flanker Graham Doll.[10]

In 2006, Taofifénua was appointed general manager for USA Limoges.

Honours

French premiership:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Pro D2. Auch. La chasse aux mammouths est ouverte". www.ladepeche.fr. October 18, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Castres et " la magie du rugby "". www.republicain-lorrain.fr. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "Combien de fois Bayonne s'est imposé dans la capitale ?". www.rugbyrama.fr. Midi olympique. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "MICHEL RINGEVAL (PART 2): " AU BOUT D'UN QUART D'HEURE, J'AI COMPRIS QU'ON NE GAGNERAIT PAS"". lesportdauphinois.com. November 19, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Gerry Thornley: Grenoble's Jackman fast becoming one of top Irish coaches". irishtimes. April 12, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  6. ↑ Cormary, Frédéric (1 June 2013). "Daniel Salles à propos de Castres-Grenoble en 1993 : " Je me suis trompé "". sudouest. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Parc des Princes, Paris, 5 Juin 1993". LNR. 28 December 2004. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  8. ↑ Salviac, Pierre (9 September 2015). Merci pour ces moments: 50 ans de grands reportages. ISBN 9791093463247. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Top 14: Toulon-Castres, souviens-toi, il y a vingt ans..." www.lepoint.fr. June 1, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2010-04-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)


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