Telusa Veainu

Koloti Telusa Pelaki Veainu (born 26 December 1990)[1] is a rugby union player. He plays at fullback or on the wing for Stade Français. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but he represents Tonga internationally. He is known for his speed, elusiveness and strength from fullback, earning him a place in Will Greenwood's Daily Telegraph team of the year for 2016/17.[2]

Telusa Veainu
Birth nameKoloti Telusa Pelaki Veainu[1]
Date of birth (1990-12-26) 26 December 1990
Place of birthKawakawa, New Zealand
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb; 187 lb)
SchoolSt Andrew's College
Notable relative(s)Langi Veainu (sister)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Outside Back
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2012 Canterbury 34 (105)
2011–2012 Highlanders 4 (0)
2013 Hawke's Bay 11 (35)
2013 Crusaders 4 (5)
2014 Melbourne Rising 6 (43)
2014–2015 Rebels 7 (15)
2015–2020 Leicester Tigers 80 (160)
2020– Stade Français 42 (50)
2010– Total 145 (363)
Correct as of 1 July 2020
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010 New Zealand U20
2015- Tonga 12 (40)
Correct as of 13 October 2019

Club career

Provincial Rugby

Born in Kawakawa, New Zealand, Veainu went to St Andrew's College in Christchurch where in his final year of school he was made captain of the 1st XV. He was a regular in Canterbury age group sides over the years, making the under 16's, 18's and 19's whilst still at school. Veainu was a star on the wing for the NZ U-20s at the World Cup in Argentina where he scored five tries (including three in the final).

Selected to the Canterbury squad for the 2010 ITM Cup, Veainu made his debut off the bench against Hawke's Bay and subsequently started in every match, scoring eight tries as Canterbury won the championship. Playing with Canterbury again for the 2011 ITM Cup, Veainu scored a further 5 tries in 11 games, in the process helping Canterbury win their fourth consecutive title.

For the 2013 ITM Cup, Veainu moved north to join Hawke's Bay and scored 7 tries in 11 matches for the Magpies.

Following his move to Australia to join the Melbourne Rebels, Veainu turned out for the Melbourne Rising in 2014, scoring 8 tries from just 6 starts.

Super Rugby

After a solid ITM Cup season in 2010, Veainu received a contract to play for the Highlanders for the 2011 Super Rugby season. He made his debut in the Highlanders win over the Bulls in week 3 of the competition. He was again named in the Highlanders squad for 2012, but did not appear in any matches.

For the 2013 Super Rugby season Veainu returned to his home province to sign with the Crusaders, but again struggled to duplicate his ITM Cup form, appearing in only 4 games as a substitute. His season, however, was highlighted by his first Super Rugby try against the Highlanders, his former squad, on 29 June.

On 17 September 2013, Veainu signed with the Melbourne Rebels for the 2014[3] and 2015 seasons. In May 2014, playing on the wing, he scored a runaway try for the Rebels in their loss to the Waratahs at home in Melbourne.[4][5]

Super Rugby statistics
As of 15 June 2015
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
2011Highlanders5141190000000
2012Highlanders00000000000
2013Crusaders404281000500
2014Rebels52321720001000
2015Rebels202661000500
Total1631343040002000

Leicester Tigers

It was confirmed on 28 October 2015 that Veainu has joined English Premiership team Leicester Tigers.[6] He made his debut at Welford Road against Wasps on 1 November scoring a try as Leicester won 24-16.[7] Veainu quickly became a fan favourite and signed a contract extension on 11 January 2016.[8] He won both newcomer of the year and player of the year in his first season in Leicester.[9]

Veainu was awarded try of the week in Week 16 for his try against Saracens.[10] His form in 2017/18 saw Veainu named as the Rugby Players' Association Players' Player of the year.[11] He left ahead of the 2020-21 season.[12]

Stade Français

He joined Stade Français ahead of the 2020–21 season.[13]

International career

Veainu played for the New Zealand U20 at the age of 18 and 19, but in 2015 he was selected for Tonga for the 2015 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup. He made his debut in the opening match against Fiji, scoring a try.

Veainu was selected for Tonga's 31-man squad to attend the 2019 Rugby World Cup, by Head Coach, Toutai Kefu. Veainu was Tonga's top try-scorer of the tournament, scoring three tries in total, two against Argentina and one in a two-point deficit to France.

References
  1. "Telusa Veainu". ESPNscrum.com. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  2. "Will Greenwood's Aviva Premiership team of the season". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  3. Rebels Media Unit (17 September 2013). "Rebels sign Telusa Veainu" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  4. Rebels Media Unit (23 May 2014). "Waratahs waltz past Rebels" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  5. Waratahs Media Unit (24 May 2014). "Waratahs hand Rebels a drubbing" (Press release). Waratahs. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  6. Communications at Leicester Tigers (28 October 2015). "Tigers sign Telusa Veainu" (Press release). Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  7. "Veainu touches down on Leicester debut". ESPNsrcum.com. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  8. Communications at Leicester Tigers (11 January 2016). "Tigers sign Telusa Veainu" (Press release). Leicester Tigers. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  9. "Supporters honour their Players of the Year". Leicester Tigers. 27 April 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  10. "Citizen Try of the Week - (Round 16 Winner)". YouTube.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
  11. "Telusa Veainu wins RPA POTY, Marcus Smith and Sir Clive Woodward also honoured". ESPN. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  12. "Leicester Tigers: Manu Tuilagi & Kyle Eastmond leave Premiership club". BBC Sport. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  13. "Telusa Veainu et Gerbrandt Grobler vers le Stade Français - Rugby - Transferts". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 7 July 2020.
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