Seta Tamanivalu
| Date of birth | 23 July 1992 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Lautoka, Fiji | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 104 kg (16 st 5 lb) | ||
| School | Lelean Memorial School & Saint Kentigern College | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Centre, Wing | ||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2012– | Taranaki | 45 | (90) |
| correct as of 23 October 2016. | |||
| Super Rugby | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2015-16 2017- |
Chiefs Crusaders |
22 0 |
(45) (0) |
| correct as of 30 September 2016. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2016– | New Zealand | 3 | (0) |
| correct as of 27 August 2016. | |||
Setareki Tamanivalu (born 23 July 1992) is a Fijian-born New Zealand rugby union player. He plays in the centre (and occasionally wing) position for Taranaki and the Christchurch-based Super Rugby side the Crusaders.[1] On 29 May 2016 he was selected in the All Blacks squad for a three test series against Wales.
Early life
Tamanivalu was born and raised in Fiji. He attended Lelean Memorial School where he excelled in both rugby union and rugby league. He was a member of the Fiji Secondary Schools under-18 rugby league squad that toured Australia in 2010.[2] He later migrated to New Zealand where he gained a scholarship at Saint Kentigern College to play rugby.
Domestic career
Tamanivalu was one of five newcomers in Colin Cooper's Taranaki squad named for their 2012 campaign.[3] He made his professional debut for Taranaki in the 2012 ITM Cup competition, coming on as a replacement against Hawke's Bay.
In 2013, the then 21-year-old was named most promising player of the year after a season that saw him get a regular starting spot, his all-round game had been right up there with the best of the Taranaki backs.[4] He had also been the most threatening attacker which saw him win top try scorer alongside team mate Andre Taylor.[5]
Excitement built over Tamanivalu in 2014 after an amazing ITM Cup season. His statistics for the season were impressive, he was in the top five in tries scored, clean breaks, defenders beaten, metres gained and offloads.[6] His impressive form saw him win the 2014 ITM Cup player of the year, over finalists Shane Christie and Nehe Milner-Skudder.[7] It also saw several Super Rugby franchises in New Zealand and Australia were chasing his signature before he opted to head to the Chiefs in early October.[8]
Tamanivalu poised for what promised to be an exciting 2015, It never eventuated, however, with Tamanivalu struggling for game-time with the Chiefs in the 2015 Super Rugby competition. Itching to get back into the provincial season, things took a backwards step after he strained a knee playing for the New Zealand Barbarians against the Māori All Blacks.[9] Tamanivalu recorded nine appearances and scored four tries for the Taranaki province.
In June 2016, All Blacks coach, Steve Hansen included him in his 32-man squad for the 2016 June international test series against Wales.[10] He was named on the bench for their first test against Wales.[11]
On September 29 2016 it was announced that Tamanivalu had signed a one year deal with the Crusaders for the 2017 Super Rugby season.[12]
References
- ↑ "Seta Tamanivalu Chiefs Profile". 28 December 2015.
- ↑ "Hunter Academy First For Fiji 18". Fiji Sun. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ↑ "Cooper settles on a super squad". Taranaki Daily News. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ↑ "Seta Tamanivalu desperate to make his mark". Stuff. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ↑ "Taranaki's top rugby folk praised". Club Rugby. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ↑ "Tamanivalu up for NPC player of year award". Stuff. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ↑ "2014 Steinlager Rugby Awards – Results". Rugby Heartland. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ↑ "Chiefs snap up Taranaki talent". One News. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ↑ "Star Taranaki centre Seta Tamanivalu getting back to full fitness". Stuff. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ↑ "All Blacks squad named for 2016 Steinlager Series". allblacks.com. New Zealand Rugby Union. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ↑ "All Blacks team for first Steinlager Series Test". All Blacks. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
- ↑ "AB's power lured Crusaders". Stuff. Retrieved 2016-09-30.