Jonny Fa'amatuainu

Jonny Fa'amatuainu (born 29 December 1983 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a Samoan rugby union player, who currently plays for Colomiers in the French Pro D2 competition. Fa'amatuainu's position of choice is flanker, but he also plays lock.

Jonny Fa’amatuainu
Birth nameJonathan Sauaga Fa'amatuainu
Date of birth (1983-12-29) 29 December 1983
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight118 kg (260 lb)
SchoolDe La Salle College
Occupation(s)Professional rugby
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Lock
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005–10
2010–11
2011–13
2013–15
2015–		 Bath Rugby
Scarlets
Coca-Cola West Red Sparks
Toyota Industries Shuttles
Colomiers		 98
20
31
21
20		 (75)
(25)
(105)

(10)
Correct as of 27 September 2016
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005–2011 Samoa 16

Club career

Initially, while at high school, Fa’amatuainu played basketball, not rugby. In that sport, he represented New Zealand at under-16 and under-18, and Samoa at under-20 age-group level. He started playing rugby relatively late, at the age of 18, when the rugby coach at his school (De La Salle College, Mangere East in Auckland) asked him to join their rugby team, because the team needed a flanker. After some hesitation, he agreed and it didn’t take long for his (international) rugby career to take off.[1][2]

In January 2006, Fa’amatuainu joined Bath Rugby in the English Aviva Premiership on a short-term deal[3] but was offered a two-year contract a few months later.[4]

After not getting much game time during the 2009–10 season, and due to the arrival of England captain Lewis Moody and Scotland back-rower Simon Taylor at Bath, Fa’amatuainu left Bath for the Welsh club Scarlets in the Pro12 on a one-season loan for the 2010–11 season.[5]

At the end of the 2010-2011 season, Fa’amatuainu left the Scarlets when he wasn’t offered a new contract.[6] Instead, he went to Japan to play for the Coca-Cola West Red Sparks in the Top League.[7] In 2013, Fa’amatuainu joined Toyota Industries Shuttles where he played until 2015.[8][9]

In 2015, he signed with the French club Colomiers.[10]

International career

Jonny Fa'amatuainu played for the Samoan Sevens team during the 2003–04 and 2004–05 editions of the World Rugby Sevens Series. He made his debut for the Samoa national team in November 2005 against Scotland.[3][4] He played a total of sixteen games for Samoa, his last against Tonga in July 2011.[11]

References
  1. "LET US PRAY; RUGBY: HEINEKEN CUP: SCARLETS V LEICESTER, SATURDAY 5.45PM". The Free Library. 9 January 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  2. "Fa'amatuainu, as du basket et fan de LeBron James". ladepeche.fr (in French). 5 November 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  3. "Bath boost squad with Samoan pair". Premiership Rugby. 19 January 2006. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  4. "New two year deal for Faamatuainu". Premiership Rugby. 9 May 2006. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  5. "Bath Rugby put Jonny Fa'amatuainu on loan to Scarlets". Bath Chronicle. 26 July 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  6. "Jonny Fa'amatuainu fails to win Scarlets contract". BBC Sport. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  7. "コカ･コーラウエストレッドスパークス 2011-2012 チーム一覧 (Coca-Cola West Red Sparks - Team profile - 2011-2012)". Top League (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  8. "豊田自動織機シャトルズ、2013年度 新体制、新加入選手（追加）のお知らせ (Toyota Industries Shuttles - 2013 squad - announcement of new players)". Top League (in Japanese). 22 April 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  9. "豊田自動織機シャトルズ、退団選手・退任スタッフのお知らせ (Toyota Industries Shuttles - Announcement of leaving players & retiring staff)". Top League (in Japanese). 6 March 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  10. "Colomiers boucle son marché". ladepeche.fr (in French). 12 June 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  11. Information obtained by checking the team lineups via the 'match centre' linked to results of games played by Samoa on "www.worldrugby.org". Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
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