:Mikaele Pesamino
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox rugby biography | name = Mikaele Pesamino
| image =
| birth_name = Mikaele Pesamino
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|4|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = Vailele, Upolu, Samoa
| height = {{height|m=1.88|precision=0}}
| weight = {{convert|90|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| school = Leififi College
| ru_position = Wing
| ru_nationalteam = Samoa
| ru_nationalcaps = 6
| ru_nationalpoints = (35)
| ru_nationalyears =2009–10
| ru_clubyears = 2007–10
2010–
| ru_clubcaps = 2
| ru_clubpoints =
| ru_proclubs = Auckland
Sale Sharks
| repsevensyears1 = 2007–11
| repsevensteam1 = Samoa 7s
| repsevenscomp1 = (639)
}}
Mikaele Pesamino (born 2 April 1984)[http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/player/102197.html Mikaele Pesamino player profile] Scrum.com is a rugby union player in the Samoa Sevens team. He was the highest point scorer in the 2009–2010 IRB Sevens World Series helping his country in securing their first World Series crown and was awarded the 2010 IRB World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year.{{cite web|author=Mike Jansen |url=http://www.blitzbokke.com/2010/06/mikaele-pesamino-a-true-champion/|title=Mikaele Pesamino: A true champion! |website=blitzbokke.com |date=2010-06-01 |accessdate=2017-04-17}}
Early sporting career
Pesamino was born in Vailele on the island of Upolu in Samoa. Pesamino was first discovered for his speed, when he represented Leifiifi College in the annual Champ of Chapms athletic competition. But ever since, he focused on his rugby career. His career began in both rugby union and Australian rules football. While still a teenager, he was a member of the Samoan national Australian rules football team during the 2002 Australian Football International Cup (where he was named in the All-International team), and then the 2005 Australian Football International Cup.
Samoa sevens
Pesamino was the third highest try scorer in the 2007–2008 Sevens Series and the top try scorer in the 2009–2010 Series winning season. Pesamino scored a try in the final of the 2007 Wellington Sevens to help give Samoa its first-ever tournament win with a 17–14 victory over Fiji in the final.{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/item/56212-special-moments-in-wellington-sevens/56212-special-moments-in-wellington-sevens |title=Special moments in Wellington Sevens |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=26 January 2016 |access-date=22 December 2021}}
The Samoa national rugby sevens team plays in the IRB Sevens World Series, which takes place annually in several countries.{{cite web
|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby/article377721.ece/Samoa-win-Honk-Kong-Sevens|work=Times LIVE|title=Samoa win Hong Kong Sevens|date=28 March 2010|accessdate=29 March 2010}}
Fifteens career
Pesamino played provincial rugby for Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup.
Pesamino signed for Sale Sharks in summer 2010 for the 2010/2011 season.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/sale/8796114.stm |title=Samoa sevens star Mikaele Pesamino signs for Sale |publisher=BBC |date=7 July 2010 |access-date=22 December 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12573/6249673/sale-secure-samoan-winger |title=Sale secure Samoan winger |publisher=Sky Sports |date=7 July 2010 |access-date=22 December 2021}} However, Pesamino had issues with his work visa, and Pesamino's transfer was further delayed by Pesamino's involvement with Samoa in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and then Samoa's November tour of Europe. Sale abandoned the deal in January 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/sale-abandon-pesamino-raid-852126 |title=Sale abandon Pesamino raid |publisher=Manchester Evening news |date=20 January 2011 |access-date=22 December 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{World Rugby Men's Sevens Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pesamino}}
Category:World Rugby Awards winners
Category:Male rugby sevens players
Category:Samoan rugby union players
Category:21st-century Samoan sportsmen
Category:People from Tuamasaga
Category:Samoa international rugby union players
Category:Samoan expatriate rugby union players in New Zealand
Category:Samoan expatriate rugby union players in England