Tima Fainga'anuku

Tima Fainga'anuku
Full nameLotima Taufo'ou Fainga'anuku
Date of birth (1997-04-26) 26 April 1997 (age 26)
Place of birthNuku'alofa, Tonga
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight103 kg (16 st 3 lb; 227 lb)
SchoolNelson College
Notable relative(s)Leicester Fainga'anuku (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fullback
Current team Manawatu, Moana Pasifika.
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2020 Tasman 42 (40)
2018–2019 Perpignan 14 (15)
2021– Manawatu 24 (30)
Correct as of 16 September 2023
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018
2020
2022–		 Crusaders
Highlanders
Moana Pasifika		 2
2
15		 (0)
(0)
(20)
Correct as of 4 June 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 New Zealand U20 7 (15)
2022– Tonga 6 (5)
Correct as of 4 June 2023
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2018 New Zealand 1
Correct as of 25 June 2021

Lotima Taufo'ou Fainga'anuku (born 26 April 1997) is a Tongan-born New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays for Manawatu in the Bunnings NPC and Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. His position is wing.

Early career

Fainga'anuku was educated at Nelson College from 2011 to 2015.[1] He was a part of the New Zealand Under 20s winning team over England Under 20s 64–17 in the 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[1]

Senior career

Fainga'anuku started his senior career at Tasman in 2016. He made his Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders in their 34–20 win over the Chiefs in Round 16, 2018.[2][3] Tima was named in the Highlanders 2020 squad after Connor Garden-Bachop had to withdraw because of injury. He was part of the Mako side that won the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup. In June 2021, it was announced that Fainga'anuku would be switching his international eligibility to Tonga using the Olympic loophole, representing Tonga Sevens at the 2020 Men's Rugby Sevens Final Olympic Qualification Tournament, however due to quarantining issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic he was unable to play, meaning he is still captured by New Zealand.[4] Fainga'anuku made the move to Manawatu on a 2 year deal.[5] In May 2022 was named in the Tonga national squad.

References

  1. ^ a b "Baby Blacks winger Tima Faingaanuku takes on the world - and wins". stuff.co.nz. 23 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Live Super Rugby updates= Chiefs vs Crusaders". NZ Herald. 2 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Crusaders too strong for Chiefs". Otago Daily Times. 2 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Rugby: Former All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa set to represent Tonga". NZ Herald. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Strike weapon Fainga'anuku locked in for Turbos". Manawatu Turbos. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.

External links