David Vaealiki

David Ioane Vaealiki (/veɪəlɪki/) (born 13 November 1980) is a New Zealand former rugby league and rugby union footballer who most recently played for SC Albi. He has represented New Zealand in rugby league and previously played in the National Rugby League in Australia and in the Super League, primarily as a centre.[1]

David Vaealiki
Vaealiki playing for Wigan in 2007
Personal information
Full nameDavid Ioane Vaealiki
Born (1980-11-13) 13 November 1980
Christchurch, New Zealand
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight99 kg (15 st 8 lb)
Playing information
Rugby league
PositionFullback, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1999–04 Parramatta Eels 92 32 0 0 128
2005–07 Wigan Warriors 73 17 1 0 70
2008 Manly Sea Eagles 2 0 0 0 0
Total 167 49 1 0 198
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1998 Canterbury
2000–03 New Zealand 7 3 0 0 12
Rugby union
PositionCentre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2008–10 SC Albi 19 2 0 0 10
Source: [1][2]

Early years and Parramatta

A product of New Zealand junior side Sydenham, David Vaealiki attended Linwood High School and became Canterbury's youngest ever representative when he made his début for the province aged just 17 years and 199 days in a match against the West Coast.[3] He then signed for the Parramatta Eels and made his first grade début in 1999. During this time he taught Physical Education at Castle Hill High School, where the league team he coached had 0 wins. He went on to play for Parramatta at centre in their 2001 NRL Grand Final loss to the Newcastle Knights. Vaealiki scored the fastest hat-trick in the NRL versus Penrith 17 March 2002. In 2004, David's season was cut short by an Achilles tendon injury, he played only eight games.

Wigan Warriors career

He signed a 3-year contract with the Wigan Warriors in July 2004. He joined the club for the 2005 Super League and his first appearance for Wigan Warriors on 30 January 2005 in a pre-season friendly against the London Broncos after starting the match from the bench. He made his first start for the Wigan Warriors in their 15–4 win over the Salford City Reds in the Super League his last game was the semi-final versus Leeds Rhinos during October 2007.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

David Vaealiki was expected to join the Harlequins RL when his Wigan Warriors contract expired at the end of 2007's Super League XII and it was not known if he was offered a new contract. During September 2007 he was linked with a move to French rugby union side Sporting Club Albigeois.

Instead Vaealiki joined the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles on a one-year deal and played two games for the club in early 2008.[4]

French rugby union

Vaealiki was released by Manly after round 7 of the NRL to enable him to take up the offer of a two-year contract with Top 14 French rugby union club, SC Albi.[5]

International career

Vaealiki earned international selection for the Junior Kiwis in 1998 and played for New Zealand between 2000 and 2003, including the World Cup in 2000.

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. It's Rugby
  3. John Coffey Youngsters in Canty side for West Coast fixture The Press, 29 May 1998
  4. "Vaealiki signs for the Sea Eagles". ManlySeaEagles.com. 26 November 2007. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2007.
  5. "Wigan old boy heads for union". Sportinglife. 1 May 2008. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2007.
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