Talite Vaioleti

Talite Vaioleti (born 13 November 1980) is a Tongan rugby union player, born in Haveluloto, Tonga,[1] who plays for National League 1 side, Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C..[2] He is a utility player able to play as a Lock or in the Back Row.[3]

Talite Vaioleti
Birth nameTalite Vaioleti
Date of birth (1980-11-13) November 13, 1980
Place of birthHaveluloto, Tonga
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight115 kg (254 lb)
SpouseCatherine
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C.
Youth career
2003-2005 Club Levengamalie
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
2013-		 Royan
Hertford
Jersey
Wharfedale.
Rotherham
Jersey
Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C.		 ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005-
2005-
2010		 Tonga
Tonga A
Barbarians		 2

1		 2

(10)

Career

Vaioleti started to play rugby for Club Levengamalie in 2003.[1] After a club tour to New Zealand, he was persuaded to turn professional and in 2005,[1] was selected to play for Tonga against France. While in France, he was approached to play club rugby in Europe. As a result of this, Vaioleti played one season with Royan in France.[4] From there along with some fellow Tongan players, he moved to England to play for Hertford in 2006.[4] In 2007, Vaioleti joined Jersey[5] where he became captain and led them to two promotions and a game at Twickenham Stadium in London.[4] In 2010, Vaioleti left Jersey to move to Wharfedale after a recommendation from fellow Tongan, Latu Makaafi.[5] After a season, in 2011 he moved to Rotherham Titans where despite making 8 appearances for them in the RFU Championship, due to a lack of starts he moved back to Jersey, who had just been promoted to the RFU Championship, in 2012.[6]

International career

Vaioleti has represented Tonga twice as well as appeared a number of times for Tonga A. In 2010 he received an invitation to represent The Barbarians under England national coach, Brian Ashton against a Forces XV where he scored two tries.[4]

Personal life

Vaioleti is married to a Jerseywoman named Catherine whom he met during his first stint at Jersey.[7] Vaioleti is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Between 2001 and 2003 he was a missionary in Australia.[1] In 2011, he was interviewed by the BBC for a radio programme about the haka.[8]

References
  1. "Spreading the Gospel through Sport" (PDF). LDS Church. 2010. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  2. "Talite Vaioleti". Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  3. Marshall, Bill (2010-08-05). "Tongan international signs for Greens". Craven Herald. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  4. "Interview with Talite Vaioleti from Tonga". Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions. 2011-05-06. Archived from the original on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  5. "Talite Vaioleti to depart Jersey Rugby Club". BBC Sport. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  6. GMT (2012-05-28). "Former captain Talite Vaioleti returns to Jersey". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  7. "Siam stage is set". This Is Jersey. 2009-05-01. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  8. "Haka face-off: NZ All Blacks versus Tonga". BBC News. 2011-08-08. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
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