Fa'atiga Lemalu

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

|name=Fa'atiga Lemalu

|image=File:Faatiga Lemalu Manu Samoa.jpg

|image_size=

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1989|04|17|df=y}}

|birth_place=Auckland, New Zealand

|height={{convert|1.97|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|weight={{convert|115|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}

|school=De La Salle College, NZ

|university=

|relatives=

|occupation=Rugby Union Player

|ru_currentposition=Lock, Loose forward

|fullname=Faatiga Lemalu

|position=Lock

|currentclub=Manawatu Turbos

|youthyears1=

|youthclubs1=

|amatyears1=2011–2012 |amatteam1=Papatoetoe RFC |amatapps1=50 |amatpoints1=55

|years1=2013–2018 |clubs1=Munakata Sanix Blues |apps1=32 |points1=25

|years2=2016 |clubs2={{Rut|Sunwolves}} |apps2=9 |points2=5

|years3=2018 |clubs3={{Rut|Auckland}} |apps3=11 |points3=10

|years4=2018–2019 |clubs4=Yorkshire Carnegie |apps4=7 |points4=5

|years5=2019–2021 |clubs5=Cornish Pirates |apps5=19 |points5=5

|years6=2021 |clubs6=Manawatu Turbos |apps6=0 |points6=0

|repyears1=2007 |repteam1=New Zealand Schools |repcaps1=4 |reppoints1=10

|repyears2=2012–present |repteam2={{nrut|Samoa}} |repcaps2=25 |reppoints2=15

|clubupdate=1 August 2021

|repupdate=1 August 2021

}}

Fa'atiga Lemalu (born 17 April 1989) is a New Zealand-born, Samoan international rugby union footballer who plays as a lock.{{Cite web |title=Faatiga Lemalu |url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/faatiga-lemalu |access-date=2018-10-30 |website=www.ultimaterugby.com |language=en}}

Lemalu played his professional rugby for the Munakata Sanix Blues in Fukuoka, Japan after joining them in 2013.{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_33639.html | title=Faatiga Lemalu itsrugby Player Statistics | work=itsrugby.co.uk | accessdate=25 December 2015}} He was also named in the new Japanese {{Rut|Sunwolves}} squad which made their first Super Rugby appearance for the 2016 season.{{cite web | url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/sunwolves-reveal-squad-hammett-to-coach/ | title=Sunwolves reveal squad, Hammett to coach | work=Sanzar Rugby | date = 21 December 2015 | accessdate=23 December 2015}}

In 2017, Lemalu joined UK powerhouse club Saracens towards the later stage of the season as an injury cover during their 2016-17 Premiership Rugby campaign.{{Cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12572/10760411/saracens-sign-samoa-lock-faatiga-lemalu|title=Saracens sign Samoa lock Fa'atiga Lemalu|work=Sky Sports|access-date=2018-10-30|language=en}}

Lemalu would go on to play for Auckland Rugby, later becoming the champions of the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup in New Zealand since 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/69725?newsfeedId=294278|title=Auckland back on top in the Mitre 10 Cup after extra-time thriller|website=www.aucklandrugby.co.nz|access-date=2018-10-30}}

Lemalu is a full international for {{nrut|Samoa}} having made his debut in a match against {{nrut|Tonga}} in 2012, missing the 2015 Rugby World Cup{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/faatiga-lemalu|title=Faatiga Lemalu|website=www.ultimaterugby.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-30}} due to injury.

Yorkshire Carnegie strengthened their squad in November 2018 with the capture of Samoan international second row for the remainder of the 2018-2019 Greene King IPA Championship season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirecarnegie.com/player/fa-atiga-lemalu-2736/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116095924/https://www.yorkshirecarnegie.com/player/fa-atiga-lemalu-2736/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=16 January 2019|title=Player Profile - Yorkshire Carnegie {{!}} Emerald Headingley Stadium in Leeds|last=Lemalu Yorkshire Carnegie|first=Faatiga|website=Yorkshire Carnegie|access-date=2019-01-15}}

At the beginning of the 2019 IPA Green King Championship, Cornish Pirates{{Cite web|url=https://cornish-pirates.com/rugby/pirates-sign-samoan-international-faatiga/|title=Pirates Sign Samoan International Fa'atiga}} secured Lemalu on a two-year deal which saw him make 19 appearances before heading back to New Zealand signing with Manawatu Turbos for the upcoming Bunnings NPC 2021 season.