Alofa Alofa

{{short description|Samoa international rugby union & league player}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Alofa Alofa

| image = Alofa Alofa.jpg

| fullname = Alofa Alofa

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|03|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|94|kg|stlb|0|abbr=on}}

| occupation =

| school = Canterbury Boys' High School

| university =

| relatives =

| position = Wing/Centre

| currentclub = Harlequins

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = | clubs1 = La Rochelle

| youthclubs2 = Harlequins

| youthclubs3 = Aviron Bayonnais

| youthclubs4 = Tarbes

| years1 = 2014–2016

| years2 = 2016–2019

| years3 = 2019–2021

| years4 = 2022-

| points1 = 35

| points2 = 45

| points3 = 10

| apps1 = 27

| apps2 = 41

| apps3 = 12

| province1 = West Harbour

| province2 = Randwick

| provinceyears1 = 2013–2014

| provinceyears2 = 2016

| provincepoints1 = 85

| provincepoints2 = 0

| provinceapps1 = 21

| provinceapps2 = 2

| ru_provinceupdate = 15 December 2017

| super1 = Waratahs

| superyears1 = 2014

| superapps1 = 15

| superpoints1 = 25

| super14update = 15 December 2017

| repyears1 = 2014–

| repteam1 = Samoa

| repcaps1 = 6

| reppoints1 = 0

| repyears2 =

| repteam2 = Sydney East Schools

| repcaps2 =

| reppoints2 =

| repyears3 =

| repteam3 = Combined High Schools

| repcaps3 =

| reppoints3 =

| clubupdate = 15 December 2017

| repupdate = 25 October 2018

| module = {{Infobox rugby league biography

| embed = yes

| retired = no

| position = {{rlp|FB}}

| club1 = Sydney Roosters

| year1start = 2011

| year1end = 12

| appearances1 =

| tries1 =

| goals1 =

| fieldgoals1 =

| points1 =

| source =

}}

Alofa Alofa (born 12 March 1991) is a Samoan international rugby union footballer who plays as a centre for Harlequins in the English Gallagher Premiership.{{cite web| url=http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/Team/SuperRugbySquad/PlayerDetail.aspx?pid=9| title=Alofa Alofa Waratahs Player Profile| publisher=Waratahs Rugby| accessdate=24 February 2014}}{{cite web| url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_25438.html| title=Alofa Alofa Player Statistics| publisher=itsrugby| accessdate=24 February 2014}}

Background

Alofa was born in Auckland, New Zealand but emigrated to Australia with his family aged four.

Career

=Rugby League=

He started out his professional career in rugby league with the Sydney Roosters, and switched to union in 2013.

=Rugby Union=

He scored 13 tries during the 2013 Shute Shield season, this brought him to the attention of the {{Rut|Waratahs}} who named him in their wider training group for the 2014 Super Rugby season. Alofa made his first appearance in week 1 of the campaign and marked his debut with a try in a 43-21 win over the Western{{Rut|Force}} in Sydney.{{SA Rugby Match Centre| id=113754| homeid=16264| awayid=16274| leagueid=1574| hometeam=Waratahs| homescore=43| awayscore=21| awayteam=Force| matchdate=23 February 2014| date=15 March 2016}}{{cite web| url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/waratahs-prepared-to-test-alofa-alofa-in-super-rugby-opener-against-western-force-20140220-3348q.html| title=Waratahs prepared to test Alofa Alofa in Super Rugby opener against Western Force| work=Sydney Morning Herald| publisher=Fairfax| date = 21 February 2014| accessdate=24 February 2014}}

Internationally, Alofa was eligible to play for New Zealand due to it being the country of his birth. He was also able to play for the Wallabies by virtue of residency, and Samoa through his Samoan born parents, the Samoan ministers Kaisala and Tusi.[http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10324111/Departing-NSW-star-wants-to-finish-on-high Departing NSW star wants to finish on high] On 14 November 2014, he made his international debut for Samoa against Canada, starting on the right wing.