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Leicester Fainga'anuku

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Leicester Fainga’anuku
Full nameLeicester Ofa Ki Wales Twickenham Fainga’anuku
Date of birth (1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 (age 25)
Place of birthNukuʻalofa, Tonga
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Weight108 kg (238 lb; 17 st 0 lb)[1]
SchoolNelson College
Notable relative(s)Ta'u Fainga'anuku (father)
Tima Fainga'anuku (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Centre
Current team Toulon
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2023 Tasman 38 (105)
2019–2023 Crusaders 55 (150)
2023– Toulon 16 (45)
Correct as of 4 August 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2019 New Zealand U20 9 (35)
2020 South Island 1 (0)
2020 Moana Pasifika 1 (0)
2022–2023 New Zealand 7 (25)
2022 All Blacks XV 1 (0)
Correct as of 4 August 2024
Medal record
Men's Rugby union
Representing  New Zealand
Rugby World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2023 France Squad

Leicester Ofa Ki Wales Twickenham Fainga’anuku[2] (born 11 October 1999 in Tonga) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a wing for Toulon in the French Top 14.[3] He previously played for Tasman in the National Provincial Championship[4] and the Crusaders in Super Rugby.[5] He has represented New Zealand internationally.

Early career

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Fainga’anuku was educated at Nelson College, where he was captain of the school's 1st XV team.[6]

His father Ta'u Fainga'anuku played prop for Tonga in the 1999 Rugby World Cup. One of the games during the World Cup, in which Tonga beat Italy, was played at Welford Road Stadium, Leicester, England. Ta'u named his son after the city in honour of the game. Wales was used as one of his middle names as the hosts and Twickenham was named after Twickenham Stadium where Tonga were due to play their next match.[2]

Senior career

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Tasman

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Fainga’anuku was for the first time named in the Tasman Mako squad for the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup season[7] and made his debut in Round 8 when Tasman played Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, coming off the bench in a 21–47 win for the Mako.[8] He was part of the Tasman team that won the Mitre 10 Cup for the first time in 2019.[9] He was again part of the Mako side that won the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup.[10] Fainga’anuku had an outstanding 2021 Bunnings NPC season as Tasman made the final before losing 23–20 to Waikato.[11]

Crusaders

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Fainga’anuku was named in the Crusaders squad for the 2019 Super Rugby season, after signing a three year contract with the franchise.[12][13] He made his debut for the franchise, off the bench, against the Brumbies in Round 11, but that was the only game he played in the 2019 season as the Crusaders went on to win their third Super Rugby title in a row.[5]

During the following seasons, Fainga’anuku cemented himself more and more in the match day squad, from 2022 as a regular starter. He starred during that season, which he finished as the joined top try scorer with Crusaders team mates Sevu Reece and Will Jordan at 10 tries each.[14] The Crusaders won their sixth title in a row with a 7–21 win over the Blues in the final.[15]

The 2023 season turned out to be Fainga’anuku's last season with the Crusaders. On 8 June 2023, the Crusaders announced that he had signed an 18 month contract with French Top 14 club Toulon.[16] Less than three weeks after that announcement, the Crusaders won their seventh consecutive Super Rugby title after beating the Chiefs 20–25 in the final. Fainga’anuku finished the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season as the competition's top try scorer with 13 tries.[17]

North v South

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Fainga’anuku was named on the South Island team's bench for the North vs South match that was played on 5 September 2020 at Sky Stadium in Wellington.[18] The South Island won the game 38–35.[19]

Moana Pasifika

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On 5 December 2020, Fainga’anuku played for Moana Pasifika in a one-off match against the Māori All Blacks in Hamilton.[20] He started in the number 14 jersey in a historic game that the Moana Pasifika side lost 21–28.[21]

International career

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After being one of the best players during the 2022 Super Rugby season, Fainga’anuku was selected in the All Blacks squad for the 2022 Steinlager Series against Ireland.[22] He was named to debut as a starting winger in the first test of the series on 2 July 2022 at Eden Park, Auckland.[23] New Zealand won the match 42–19, with Fainga’anuku becoming All Black number 1200.

On 7 August 2023, Fainga’anuku was named in the All Blacks squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[24] He made his World Cup debut – via the bench – on 8 September 2023 in the round 1 loss against France.[25] He scored his first ever try for the All Blacks in the second pool match against Namibia on 15 September 2023.[26] On 5 October 2023, Fainga’anuku scored a hat-trick in the final pool match against Uruguay.[27]

All in all, Fainga’anuku played 7 tests for the All Blacks and scored 5 tries in the black jersey.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Leicester Fainga'anuku player profile". rugbyworldcup.com. 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b "The story behind new All Black Leicester Fainga'anuku's name". Stuff. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  3. ^ "RC Toulonnais profile". RC Toulonnais (in French). 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Tasman Mako profile". Tasman Mako. 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Crusaders Player Profile". Crusaders. 2023. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Faingaanuku brothers, Tima and Leicester, dream of wearing the black jersey". Stuff. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  7. ^ "2018 Tasman Mako Squad Announced". mako.nz. 10 August 2018. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Tasman Mako named to play Otago in Dunedin". mako.nz. 6 October 2018. Archived from the original on 1 February 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Tasman claim national title for first time". allblacks.com. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Tasman Mako go back-to-back". allblacks.com. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Waikato and Taranaki crowned Bunnings NPC champions". allblacks.com. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Crusaders lock in highly touted Leicester Fainga'anuku for three years". Stuff NZ. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Five new names in 2019 BNZ Crusaders squad". Crusaders. 30 October 2018. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  14. ^ "2022 Super Rugby Pacific – Player stats". SANZAAR. 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Crusaders clinch the Super Rugby Pacific title in style". SANZAAR. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Leicester Fainga'anuku's future at the Crusaders". Crusaders (Press release). 8 June 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Statchat: Super Rugby Pacific 2023". SANZAAR. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Teams named for Steinlager North v South Match". allblacks.com (Press release). 3 September 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  19. ^ "South edge North at the buzzer". allblacks.com. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Moana Pasifika names side to face Māori All Blacks". allblacks.com (Press release). 3 December 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Māori All Blacks edge Moana Pasifika in historic encounter". allblacks.com. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Six new caps in All Blacks squad for 2022 Steinlager Series". allblacks.com (Press release). 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  23. ^ "All Blacks wing Leicester Fainga'anuku to debut against Ireland". allblacks.com (Press release). 30 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  24. ^ "All Blacks name 33-man squad for 2023 Rugby World Cup in France". allblacks.com (Press release). 7 August 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  25. ^ "All Blacks named to play France in Rugby World Cup opener". allblacks.com (Press release). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  26. ^ "All Blacks run rampant in rainy Toulouse". allblacks.com. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  27. ^ "All Blacks cap off pool play in style". allblacks.com. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
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