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Leva Fifita

Leva Fifita
Full nameSalesi Halaleva Lapota Fifita
Date of birth (1989-07-29) 29 July 1989 (age 35)
Place of birthNeiafu, Tonga
Height1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight118 kg (260 lb; 18 st 8 lb)
Notable relative(s)Vaea Fifita (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Oyonnax Rugby
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2017 Waikato 12 (0)
2017–2021 Grenoble 65 (40)
2021–2023 Connacht 24 (10)
2023–present Oyonnax 2 (0)
Correct as of 4 September 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009 Tonga U20 4 (5)
2017– Tonga 28 (20)
Correct as of 21 June 2023

Salesi Halaleva Lapota Fifita (born 29 July 1989) is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Top 14 club Oyonnax Rugby and the Tonga national team.[1][2]

Professional career

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Club

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Fifita started his professional career in 2016 playing for Waikato, having previously played for Hamilton Old Boys.[3] In February 2017 he trained with the Chiefs development squad,[4] but not play any of the three friendly matches scheduled for the team.

In December 2017 he joined Rugby Pro D2 team FC Grenoble as a replacement for Mickaël Capelli.[5] In March 2018 he extended his contract until June 2019.[6] He later extended his contract for three more seasons.[7] In June 2021 he activated his departure clause early, leaving Grenoble and signing with Irish team Connacht.[8][9][10] He made his debut for the club in September 2021.[11]

He joins Oyonnax Rugby in August 2023.[12]

International

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He made his international debut for Tonga against Wales on 16 June 2017.[13][14] He was also part of the Tongan team which emerged as runners-up to Fiji at the 2017 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup. He was included in the Tongan squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.[15][16] He played four games in this competition, against England, Argentina, France and the United States.[17] He was selected again to play against Scotland in Tonga's 2021 tour of the northern hemisphere.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Liam Napier (25 November 2017). "Rugby: How Fifita fits Rookie of Year criteria". ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Leva Fifita". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Waikato name national provincial championship squad with classy backline". Stuff. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Bay players make Chiefs development squad". New Zealand Herald. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  5. ^ "FCG : Talakai et Fifita se sont engagés" (in French). Le Dauphine. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Grenoble : le Tongien Fifita prolonge" (in French). Rugbyrama. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Grenoble : Leva Fifita a prolongé jusqu'en 2022" (in French). L'Equipe. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Pro D2 : Leva Fifita quitte le FCG !" (in French). Le Dauphine. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  9. ^ Adam Kyriacou (31 May 2021). "Connacht sign Tongan powerhouse Leva Fifita". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Connacht sign Tonga international Leva Fifita from Grenoble". Irish Examiner. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Leva Fifita in line for debut as Connacht welcome Vodacom Bulls to Sportsground". Huge Rugby. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  12. ^ "LEVA FIFITA, NOUVEL OYOMAN – OYONNAX RUGBY" (in French). 29 October 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Tonga v Wales". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  14. ^ "Sport: Tonga picks new look front-row for Wales rugby test". RNZ. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Kefu names squad tasked with making history". rugbyworldcup.com. Rugby World Cup. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  16. ^ Aaron Goile (2 September 2019). "Rugby World Cup 2019: Tonga 'fixated' on playoffs dream, says coach Toutai Kefu". Stuff. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Leva Fifita Tonga". ESPN. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Tonga select eight new caps to face Scotland". RNZ. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
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