Michael Fatialofa

Michael Fatialofa
Date of birth (1992-09-14) 14 September 1992
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight 118 kg (18 st 8 lb; 260 lb)
School Mount Albert Grammar School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Auckland / Hurricanes
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2014 Southland 36 (0)
2015−2018 Auckland 19 (5)
2016−2018 Hurricanes 37 (10)
2018− Worcester Warriors 0 (0)
Correct as of 29 October 2016
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010 New Zealand Schools 3 ()

Michael Fatialofa (born 14 September 1992) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for Auckland in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Hurricanes in the international Super Rugby competition.[1][2][3][4]

Early career

Born in Auckland, Fatialofa was educated at Mount Albert Grammar School in his hometown where he played first XV rugby for 3 years and helped them to lift the Auckland Schools title in 2010. Rated as one of the top New Zealand lock prospects at the time, it came as something of a surprise when he opted to move to the country's far south to play club rugby with the Blues in Southland after he'd finished high school.[5]

Senior career

He spent the first 4 years of his senior career playing provincial rugby for Southland with whom he racked up 36 appearances. His first season with the Stags saw him play 3 times as they were relegated from the ITM Cup Premiership. The men from Invercargill finished 4th on the Championship log for the next three seasons which saw them qualify for the promotion playoffs, however, each time they lost at the semi-final stage to the eventual champions, going down to Counties Manukau, Tasman and Manawatu respectively. In 2013 and 2014, he was a key figure in Southland's line up, playing all 22 matches across both seasons.

He moved back home to Auckland ahead of the 2015 ITM Cup with the switch seeing him join one of New Zealand's traditional rugby powerhouses.[5] He played 11 times in his first season with the blue and whites and scored his first ever provincial try to help his new side finish 2nd on the Premiership log and reach the playoff final where they would lose out 25-23 to Canterbury.

2016 would not be such a happy year for Auckland as they finished up 5th on the Premiership log, missing out on the playoffs altogether, Fatialofa himself played in 8 of their 10 matches during the season.[4]

Four years of toil with Southland and an impressive season with Auckland saw him finally earn a Super Rugby contract with the Wellington-based Hurricanes ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season.[6][7] His first year in New Zealand's capital turned out to be a roaring success as he formed an impressive second row partnership with Vaea Fifita as the 'Canes, beaten finalists in 2015, went one better in 2016 and were crowned Super Rugby champions following a 20-3 victory over South African side, the Lions in the tournament final. Fatialofa played 15 times during his debut Super Rugby campaign.[4]

On 28 March 2018, Fatialofa have signed for England club Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership on a two-year contract from the 2018-19 season.[8]

International career

He was a New Zealand Schools representative in 2010.[9][10]

On 5 November 2016, he featured for the Barbarians in their 31-31 draw against South Africa at Wembley Stadium. He played the entire 80 minutes in the number 5 jersey in a side containing his Hurricanes team-mates, Reggie Goodes and Brad Shields.[11][12]

Career Honours

Hurricanes

Super Rugby Statistics

As of 24 January 2017[4]
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
2016 Hurricanes151419930000000
Total151419930000000

References

  1. ↑ "Michael Fatialofa Hurricanes Player Profile". Hurricanes Rugby. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "Michael Fatialofa Auckland Player Profile". Auckland Rugby. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Hurricanes 2017 Squad Guide" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Michael Fatialofa itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Familiar face of Michael Fatialofa to debut for Auckland against the Stags". The Southland Times. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  6. ↑ "Rugby: Fatialofa to be fitted for his blazer". New Zealand Herald. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  7. ↑ "Hurricanes' 2016 squad features nine new faces, full of X-Factor". TVNZ. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  8. ↑ "Michael Fatialofa: Worcester Warriors sign New Zealand-born lock on two-year contract". BBC Sport. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  9. ↑ "Michael Fatialofa All Blacks Player Profile". All Blacks.com. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "2010 New Zealand Schools squad announced". All Blacks.com. 6 September 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "Former All Black Andy Ellis to skipper Barbarians against Springboks". Rugby Heaven. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  12. ↑ "Late van Rensburg try saves South Africa blushes". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
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