Neemia Tialata

Neemia Stanley Tialata (born 15 July 1982 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand)[1] is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Stade Toulousain in the Top 14. As well as representing New Zealand from 2005 - 2010, he also played for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and for Wellington in the ITM/Air New Zealand Cup when available.

Neemia Tialata
Birth nameNeemia Stanley Tialata
Date of birth (1982-07-15) 15 July 1982
Place of birthWainuiomata, New Zealand
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight136 kg (300 lb)
SchoolWellington College, Parkway College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
All Black No. 1060
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011-2014
2014-		 Bayonne
Toulouse
rc narbonne		 75
32
7		 (0)
(0)
(0)
Correct as of 31 January 2015
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003–2010 Wellington 65 (25)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2004–2011 Hurricanes 101 (15)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005–2010 New Zealand 43 (10)

Early life

Tialata was born in Lower Hutt but moved, when he was one, to American Samoa with his parents who were undergoing religious training in Kanana Fou Theological Seminary. The family returned to their vocation in New Zealand when Tialata was five with his late mother Sipoutasi, late father Rev. Pelema and sisters. He was the only boy and was the third child out of the four.

His father died after a year of serving at the CCCAS church in Porirua, New Zealand followed by his mother four years after. Tialata and his three sisters now reside with his aunt whom he now calls his mother (Nu'ulopa) and her five children whom Tialata also now considers his brothers and sisters.

Career

Tialata debuted for Wellington in 2003 and was selected for the Hurricanes in 2004. Tialata thrust himself into the All Blacks selection frame as a young prop with his strong play throughout the 2005 season and made his Test debut in the first match of the All Blacks Home Nations tour – against Wales – in November that year. He was dropped from the 2010 Tri Nations squad due to poor form.[2] In 2011, after 8 seasons with the Hurricanes, he signed with Top 14 side Aviron Bayonnais. Formerly a loosehead prop, Tialata now concentrates his efforts on the tighthead side of the scrum but retains the valuable ability to cover both sides

References
  1. Neemia Tialata player profile ESPN Scrum.com
  2. "All Blacks: Quartet axed for Tri Nations". NZ Herald. APN Holdings. 27 June 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
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