Daniel Tonga Faleafa (born 13 February 1989) is a Tongan rugby union player. He plays in the flanker and occasionally lock position for the France based Pro D2 side, Colomiers. Faleafa also represents Tonga at international level.

Daniel Faleafa
Full nameDaniel Tonga Faleafa
Date of birth (1989-02-13) 13 February 1989 (age 35)
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight108 kg (17 st 0 lb; 238 lb)
SchoolMount Albert Grammar School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker
Current team Colomiers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009 Auckland 2 (0)
2009–2012 Northland 22 (10)
2013 Southern Districts 8 (5)
2014 Randwick 3 (0)
2014–2017 Albi 70 (45)
2017–2018 Colomiers 16 (5)
2018-2019 Coventry 12 (0)
2020 Austin Elite ()
Correct as of 22 May 2018
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009 New Zealand U20 3 (0)
2013– Tonga 28 (10)
Correct as of 18 October 2019

Early years

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Daniel Faleafa attended Mt Roskill Grammar School and Mount Albert Grammar School in Auckland. He played for the New Zealand national schoolboy rugby union team in 2007.[1]

Playing career

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Daniel Faleafa is a powerful and athletic backrower who is very adept at playing lock due to his brilliant lineout ability. He started off as a member of the Auckland Rugby Academy and in 2009 was a key member of the New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team that won the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship.[2] Daniel joined Northland in on loan in 2009 where he played 1 ITM Cup game before returning to Auckland to make another 2 ITM Cup appearances that same season.[3] Faleafa joined Northland full-time from 2010 and made 15 appearances over the next three seasons.[4]

International career

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Faleafa is a former New Zealand representative at Secondary School and Under-20 level. In 2013 he was named to play for Tonga in the 2013 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Another win for NZ Schools". All Blacks. 6 October 2007.
  2. ^ "Strong NZ under-20 rugby team named". Stuff.co.nz. 3 April 2009.
  3. ^ Thorley, Peter (31 July 2009). "Northland draft in Auckland youngster". The Northern Advocate.
  4. ^ "Player profile: Daniel Faleafa". It's Rugby. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Ikale Tahi squad named for Pacific Nations Cup". Matangi Tonga Online. 6 May 2013. (subscription required)
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