Salesi Finau

Salesi Finau (born 5 May 1973)[1] is a Tongan former rugby footballer. He represented Tonga in both the rugby league and rugby union sides.

Salesi Finau
Date of birth (1973-05-05) 5 May 1973
Place of birthNeiafu, Vava'u, Tonga
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight103 kg (16 st 3 lb)
Rugby league career
Position(s) Wing
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1994 Canberra Raiders 1 (0)
1995–1997 Warrington Wolves (44)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1995 Tonga 2 (4)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1998–2005 Scarlets 198 (200)
2005–2006 Bath 17 (15)
2006–2007 Bourgoin 17 (0)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1998–2005 Tonga 13 (5)
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2002 Tonga

Background

Finau in Neiafu, Vava'u, Tonga.

Rugby league career

Salesi began his career with the Canberra Raiders,[2] and played in the Tonga national rugby league team at the 1995 World Cup.[3] After impressing during the tournament he signed for Warrington Wolves in the Super League,[4]

Rugby union career

Club

In late 1998 Finau signed for Welsh rugby union side Llanelli Scarlets under coach Gareth Jenkins.[5] Finau made 203 appearances for the side over the next six-year, becoming an instrumental team player, playing in 3 European Cup semi-finals and 2 Celtic League Titles, before ending his contract by mutual consent in September 2005.[6] He then signed for Bath Rugby under John Connolly,[7] spending a season at the West Country club before moving to French side Bourgoin.[8] Finau had a successful season at Bourgoin, and on completion announced that he had signed a 2-year contract for Cornish Pirates.[9] However, in June 2007, the club announced that they had agreed to release Finau from the deal when a family illness obliged him to return to his native Tonga.[10]

Country

Finau received at least 13 caps for the Tongan national rugby union side,[1] and played in the Tongan rugby sevens side at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.[11]

TV career

Salesi currently presents a cooking show on Television Tonga called 'Salsa with Salesi'.[12]

References
  1. "Salesi Finau". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  2. Griffiths, Wyn (8 November 2001). "Scotland's reward for Jacobsen". The Independent. London.
  3. Hadfield, Dave (9 October 1995). "Tonga robbed by Ridge's late kicks". The Independent. London.
  4. Hadfield, Dave (28 November 1995). "Tongans head for Warrington". The Independent. London.
  5. Llewelyn, David (12 November 1998). "Rugby union: Springboks cite flanker White". The Independent. London.
  6. "Scarlets exit for homebound Finau". BBC News. 5 September 2005.
  7. "Bath sign up Scarlets wing Finau". BBC News. 8 September 2005.
  8. "Bourgoin: Présentation des recrues" (in French). Rugby365.fr. 18 July 2006.
  9. "Pirates sign ex-Bath player Finau". BBC News. 19 April 2007.
  10. "Pirates release Finau from deal on family grounds". Exeter Express and Echo. 28 June 2007.
  11. "Statistics: rugby sevens". BBC.
  12. "Tonga Broadcasting TV Programs".


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