Brian Alainu'uese

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Brian Alainu'uese

| image = BrianAlainu'uese2023(cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Alainu'uese representing Toulon during the EPCR Challenge Cup

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|03|19|df=y}}

| birth_place = Invercargill, New Zealand

| height = {{convert|2.02|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|135|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}

| school = Wesley College

| university =

| relatives =

| position = Lock

| currentclub = Toulon

| years1 = 2013–2016

| clubs1 = Waikato

| apps1 = 17

| points1 = 15

| years2 = 2015

| clubs2 = Chiefs

| apps2 = 2

| points2 = 0

| years3 = 2016–2018

| clubs3 = Glasgow Warriors

| apps3 = 22

| points3 = 0

| years4 = 2018–

| clubs4 = Toulon

| apps4 = 113

| points4 = 28

| repyears1 = 2013

| repteam1 = Samoa U20

| repcaps1 = 5

| reppoints1 = 5

| repyears2 = 2022–

| repteam2 = Samoa

| repcaps2 = 5

| reppoints2 = 0

| clubupdate = 28 August 2023

| repupdate = 28 August 2023

| ru_sevensnationalyears1 =

| ru_sevensnationalteam1 =

| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =

| ru_sevensupdate =

}}

Brian Alainu'uese (born 19 March 1994) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Top 14 club Toulon. Born in New Zealand, he represents Samoa at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.{{cite web | url=https://www.brumbies.com.au/portfolio_page/jordan-jackson-hope/ | title=Brian Alainu'uese Waikato Player Profile | publisher=Mooloo Rugby | accessdate=22 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815045446/https://www.brumbies.com.au/portfolio_page/jordan-jackson-hope/ | archive-date=15 August 2016 | url-status=dead }}

Club career

Alainu'uese has been drafted to Glasgow Hawks in the Scottish Premiership for the 2017-18 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.glasgowwarriors.com/articles/news/009919.php|title=Pro-player draft|publisher=}}

Alainu'uese first appeared for Waikato against Horowhenua-Kapiti in July 2013 after which he went on to make 6 appearances in that year's ITM Cup. Injury ruled him out of the following 2 seasons, however in 2016, injury-free he returned to the Waikato senior squad.{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-international-28899.html | title=Brian Alainu'uese itsrugby Player Statistics | publisher=itsrugby | accessdate=22 August 2016}}

Alainu'uese was a member of the {{Rut|Chiefs}} Under-18 programme and later moved into the franchise's development squad for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He got his big chance during the 2015 Super Rugby season when he was called up as a short-term injury replacement by the Chiefs and went on to make 2 appearances.{{cite web | url=http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/86-chiefs-team-announced-to-play-bulls-in-rotorua | title=Chiefs team announced to play Bulls in Rotorua | publisher=Chiefs Rugby | accessdate=22 August 2016}}

On 24 October 2016 it was announced that he had signed for professional provincial team Glasgow Warriors in a deal to the end of the season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/16/10/24/alainu%E2%80%99uese-joins-glasgow-warriors-waikato|title = News}} He made his competitive debut for Glasgow on 28 October 2016 against Benetton Treviso at Scotstoun Stadium. Langilangi Haupeakui also made his Warriors debut in the same match - Alain'uese replaced Tim Swinson on 51 minutes; and Haupeakui replaced Simone Favaro on 55 minutes. This gives Alainueuse a Glasgow Warrior No. 272 and Haupeakui a Glasgow Warrior No. 273.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unitedrugby.com/match-centre/2017/guinness-pro12/glasgow-warriors-vs-benetton-treviso-2016-10-28/417073|title = Glasgow Warriors-vs-Benetton Treviso - United Rugby Championship}}

On 23 October 2018 Alainu'uese joined Toulon after being released from his Glasgow Warriors contract by mutual consent {{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45958045/|title = Glasgow allow Alainu'uese to join Toulon|work = BBC Sport}}

International career

Alainu'uese was considered too young to be selected for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship by New Zealand and instead was called up by Samoa for whom he made 5 appearances and scored 1 try. The move does not prevent him from appearing for the All Blacks senior team in the future.{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/9037715/Big-teenager-thriving-in-locking-role | title=Big teenager thriving in locking role | publisher=Waikato Times | date = 14 August 2013 | accessdate=22 August 2016}}

He was named in Samoa's squad for their Northern Hemisphere tour in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/manusamoa/status/1577460035248349184|title=Manu Samoa on Twitter|date=2022-10-05|access-date=2023-08-12}} He received 2 senior caps in that tour.{{cite web | url=https://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-international-28899.html | title=Brian ALAINU'UESE - Player statistics - international stats - It's rugby }}

Career statistics

= Club summary =

Season	Team	Games	Starts	Sub	Mins	Tries	Cons	Pens	Drops	Points	Yel	Red
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height:90%; font-size:95%; width:60%;"
2015	{{Rut\|Chiefs}}	2	0	2	22	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total \|\| 2 \|\| 0 \|\| 2 \|\| 22 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0