Steven Setephano

Steven Miimetua Setephano (born 15 April 1984) is a New Zealand rugby union player of Cook Islands descent who has represented the Cook Islands national rugby union team. His positions of choice are number 8 or flanker. He has previously played for Waikato and Otago in the National Provincial Championship as well as the Highlanders and Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition. He currently plays for FC Grenoble in the Pro D2.[1]

Steven Setephano
Date of birth (1984-04-15) 15 April 1984
Place of birthWellington, New Zealand
Height1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight110 kg (17 st 5 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8, Flanker
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2015
2015–		 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes
Football club de Grenoble rugby		 39 (50)
Correct as of 19 January 2015
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005–2007
2008–2009
2010		 Waikato
Otago
Waikato		 21
17
4		 (15)
(5)
(0)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2010
2011		 Highlanders
Chiefs		 30
2		 (20)
(0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–  Cook Islands

Early life

Setephano was born in Wellington and educated at St Stephens' school in Auckland[2] and then at Rotorua Boys' High School.[3] He played club rugby for Hamilton Marist.[4]

Playing career

New Zealand

Setephano began his provincial career with Waikato in 2005, and was a regular member of their Air New Zealand Cup squads in 2005, 2006 and 2007, playing 19 matches.[5] In 2004 he was picked for the Chiefs development squad.[6] He remained in the development squad in 2006 and 2007, but did not play any matches.[7]

In an effort to have a stronger chance at earning a Super Rugby contract, Setephano shifted south to Dunedin, where he played for Otago in the Air New Zealand Cup[8][9] and the Highlanders in Super Rugby.[10][11]

In 2010 he rejoined Waikato for the 2010 ITM Cup,[4][12] However, his season was ended prematurely by a calf injury after just 4 matches. He was not retained by the Highlanders for the 2011 season, as the club made wholesale changes under new coach Jamie Joseph, resulting in him moving back to the Chiefs for the 2011 season.[7][13]

Japan and Europe

Setephano moved to Japan[14] where he played for the NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes in the Top League.[15] He left the club in 2015.[16]

In 2015 he moved to France, where he trialled for a few weeks with Castres Olympique.[17][18] In June 2015 he signed a deal to move to France with FC Grenoble for the 2015-16 Top 14 season.[19][20] His contract was extended in 2016.[21] Initially not retained at the end of the 2016-2017 season, he finally extended his contract following the club's relegation to Pro D2.[22] At the start of the Pro D2 season, he was named team captain,[23] and he led the team during their move up to the Top 14, after a victory in the accession play- off against Oyonnax.[24] he retired in June 2020, moving into a coaching role.[25]

International

Setephano played for the New Zealand Under-19 team in 2003[26][27] and Under-21 in 2004.

He made his international debut for the Cook Islands at the 2015 Rugby World Cup Oceania qualifier against Fiji on 28 June 2014 in Churchill Park, Lautoka.[28][29][30]

References
  1. "FC Grenoble Rugby – Steven Setephano". fcgrugby.com. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  2. "Setephano wants to make No 8 his own". Otago Daily Times. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  3. "Rotorua's boys make the big time". New Zealand Herald. 25 November 2006. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  4. Evan Pegden (31 March 2010). "Steven Setephano is 'coming back home'". Stuff. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  5. "Steven Miimetua Setephano". New Zealand Rugby History. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  6. "Chiefs development squad announced". ESPN. 19 January 2004. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  7. "Setephano wants to play for the Cooks". Cook Islands News. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  8. "Rugby: Exodus from Mooloos". New Zealand Herald. 16 October 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  9. "Air NZ Cup squads include three Otago rookies". ESPN. 24 July 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  10. "Rugby: 2008 Super 14 squads announced". New Zealand Herald. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  11. Steve Hepburn (9 August 2008). "Rugby: Setephano fired up for debut". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  12. Evan Pegden (9 June 2010). "Steven Setephano eyes Waikato slot". Stuff. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  13. "Bay signings straight into Chiefs mode". New Zealand Herald. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  14. "Younger Paul Sweeney on rise for Waikato". Stuff. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  15. "Présentation des clubs de Top League saison 2012/2013". SudRugby. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  16. "NTTドコモレッドハリケーンズ、2014年度 退団選手のお知らせ". www.top-league.jp (in Japanese). 16 March 2015.
  17. "Setephano à l'essai à Castres" (in French). Le Figaro. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  18. "Point Transferts - Top 14 : Sébastien Tillous-Borde prolonge, l'UBB dégraisse, le MHR sur Wiaan Liebenberg" (in French). Le Rugbynistere. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  19. "Un (ex) Baby Black à Grenoble" (in French). L'Equipe. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  20. "Cinq arrivées à Grenoble" (in French). Le Figaro. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  21. "Grenoble keep Setephano, Taumalolo". Planet Rugby. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  22. "FCG : trois nouvelles recrues et quatre prolongations" (in French). Le Dauphine. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  23. "Setephano nouveau capitaine du FCG" (in French). Le Dauphine. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  24. "Grenoble remporte le match d'accession contre Oyonnax et revient dans l'élite" (in French). RugbyRama. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  25. "Joueur emblématique du FCG, Steven Setephano met un terme à sa carrière" (in French). Le Dauphine. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  26. "Rugby: NZ under-19 trialists named". New Zealand Herald. 9 January 2003. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  27. "Rugby: NZ under-19 beat Ireland". New Zealand Herald. 13 April 2003. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  28. "Rugby: Big day beckons for Cook Islands". New Zealand Herald. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  29. ABC Radio Australia (7 May 2014). "World Cup qualifier pits Fiji against Cook Islands". Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  30. "RUGBY Test upfront for Fiji Cook Islands names strong team for Rugby World Cup qualifier next month". Fiji Sun. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.