Filo Tiatia
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Filo Tiatia
| image = Filo Tiatia.jpg
| caption = Filo Tiatia playing for Ospreys in 2008
| birth_name = Filogia Ian Tiatia
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1971|6|4}}
| birth_place = Wellington, New Zealand
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{convert|192|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|112|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| ru_position = Number eight, flanker, Lock
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = Western Suburbs Roosters
| amatapps1 = 100
| amatpoints1 =
| ru_amupdate =
| years1 = 1992–2001
| years2 = 1993–1994
| years3 = 2002–2006
| years4 = 2006–2011
| clubs1 = Wellington
| clubs2 = Tarvisium
| clubs3 = Toyota Verblitz
| clubs4 = Ospreys
| apps1 = 80
| apps2 =
| apps3 =
| apps4 = 99
| points1 =
| points2 =
| points3 =
| points4 = 50
| ru_clubupdate =
| super1 = Hurricanes
| superyears1 = 1996–2001
| superapps1 = 57
| superpoints1 = 40
| ru_currentclub =
| super14update =
| province1 =
| provinceyears1 =
| provinceapps1 =
| provincepoints1 =
| ru_provinceupdate =
| repsevensyears1 =
| repsevensteam1 =
| repsevenscomp1 =
| ru_sevensupdate =
| repteam1 = {{nrut|New Zealand}}
| repyears1 = 2000
| repcaps1 = 2
| reppoints1 = 10
| ru_ntupdate =
| coachteams1 = Ospreys Assistant
| coachteams2 = Toyota Verblitz Assistant
| coachteams3 = Toyota Verblitz
| coachteams4 = Sunwolves Assistant
| coachteams5 = Japan Assistant
| coachteams6 = Sunwolves
| coachteams7 = Auckland Assistant
| coachyears1 = 2007–2011
| coachyears2 = 2011–2012
| coachyears3 = 2012–2015
| coachyears4 = 2016
| coachyears5 = 2016-2017
| coachyears6 = 2016-2017
| ru_coachupdate = 17 February 2024
| occupation =
| school = Wellington College
| university = Massey University
UWIC
| website =
|ru_currentteam=Dragons RFC|ru_currentposition=Head Coach|coachteams8=Dragons RFC|coachyears8=2024-|coachyears7=2018-2021}}
Filogia Ian "Filo" Tiatia (born 4 June 1971) is a New Zealand former international rugby union player and current coach. He is best known for his time as back-row forward and occasional lock for the Ospreys. He is currently head coach of Welsh side Dragons RFC in the United Rugby Championship.
Tiatia made his debut for Wellington in 1992, playing through the advent of professionalism and then represented the Hurricanes in the Super 12 between 1996 and 2002.
Tiatia won 2 caps for the New Zealand national side in 2000. His first was as a replacement in a 102–0 win against Tonga where he scored a try. The next was a start at flanker against Italy where he again scored another try. [http://www.scrum.com/statsguru/rugby/player/13440.html?class=1;template=results;type=player;view=match match list]
He then moved to Japan to play four seasons for Toyota Verblitz before signing for the Welsh region the Ospreys.
He became a cult figure at the Ospreys impressing fans with his all action style and appetite for work around the field. He played 99 times for the Ospreys scoring 10 tries. He was so popular at the Ospreys fans set up the Filo Tiatia Appreciation Society on Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23970765017]. Tiatia also had a Grogg made of him in 2008{{Cite news |date=2010-05-06 |title=Tiatia to hang up playing boots |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8665143.stm |access-date=2025-02-17 |language=en-GB}} and fought to keep Swansea Tennis Centre open in 2010.{{Cite news |date=2010-02-16 |title=Ospreys star joins tennis battle |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/8518455.stm |access-date=2025-02-17 |language=en-GB}}
Coaching career
= Ospreys =
Tiatia retired at the age of 38 but stayed at the Ospreys as a coach. He was named head coach for the LV= Cup in 2011.{{Cite web |date=2011-01-18 |title=Tiatia handed Head Coach role for LV= Cup |url=http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/5099.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506050315/http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/5099.php |archive-date=2011-05-06 |access-date=2011-05-06 |website=Ospreys Rugby}}
= Toyota Verblitz =
Filo Tiatia left his Ospreys coaching role at the end of the 2011–2012 season to become forwards coach at Japanese side Toyota Verblitz.{{Cite news |date=2011-04-09 |title=Filo Tiatia to leave Ospreys for Japan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/13023867 |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
After one season as forwards coach for Toyota Verblitz, Tiatia was promoted to head coach for the 2012 -13 season.
== Japanese national team ==
Tiatia was also involved with the Japanese national rugby team, under head coach Eddie Jones. He worked as a forwards coach during the 2013 Asian 5 Nations.{{Cite web |last=Skippers |first=David |date=2024-05-07 |title=Former All Black added to Dragons' backroom staff |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/former-all-black-added-to-dragons-backroom-staff |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Planet Rugby |language=en}} Tiatia was later also involved with coaching the Japanese national team ahead of their November 2013 Test match against the All Blacks, which New Zealand won 54–6.{{Cite web |date=2013-11-01 |title=Rugby: All Blacks trounce Japan |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/rugby-all-blacks-trounce-japan/IV3CRNGO3J3YSUGVJ33FNODAGM/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
= Sunwolves =
In September 2016 he became head coach of Japan's Sunwolves Super Rugby side.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rugby.com.au/en/news/2016/09/12/22/30/filo-tiatia-sunwolves-coach|title=Tiatia named Sunwolves coach|website=rugby.com.au|access-date=2016-11-02}}
Tiatia's younger brother, Ace, has also played professional rugby at both provincial and Super Rugby levels, as well as making appearances for the Samoa national team.
= Auckland =
Tiatia was appointed as Forwards Coach at Mitre 10 Cup side Auckland under Head Coach Alama Ieremia in 2018.{{Cite web |title=Auckland Rugby Union |url=https://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.aucklandrugby.co.nz}} In 2021 t was announced he would be leaving the side, with the side's chief executive praising him for reaching "three semifinals, two home finals and one championship in 2018."{{Cite web |date=2021-04-03 |title=Auckland Rugby revolt: All Blacks threaten to quit, coach resigns after review |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/auckland-rugby-revolt-all-blacks-threaten-to-quit-coach-resigns-after-review/T6FO3ILOXERI7G5DTN6WQBSZ7A/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
= Dragons RFC =
Tiatia was appointed to the backroom coaching staff as Defence Coach at Dragons in May 2024 under head coach Dai Flanagan.{{Cite web |last=Skippers |first=David |date=2024-05-07 |title=Former All Black added to Dragons' backroom staff |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/former-all-black-added-to-dragons-backroom-staff |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Planet Rugby |language=en}}
Flanagan lost his job in November 2024{{Cite web |date=2024-11-02 |title=Dai Flanagan leaves Dragons' head coach role |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cz9x5w1xp75o |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} with the side having won once and lost five times to start the season, and Tiatia was appointed interim head coach until the end of the 2024-25 season.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Paul |date=2024-11-04 |title=Filo Tiatia Set For Extended Run To Prove He Can Fire The Dragons - Dai Sport |url=https://www.dai-sport.com/filo-tiatia-set-for-extended-run-to-prove-he-can-fire-the-dragons/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.dai-sport.com |language=en-GB}}
In February 2025 Dragons RFC announced Tiatia would officially become the next head coach, on a "multi-year" contract. The side also offered to recruit his chosen assistant coach.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-11 |title=Dragons: Filo Tiatia appointed head coach on long-term basis |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cx2p52r9rwno |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
Personal life
Tiatia and his wife Sally have five children, three of whom were born in Swansea during his time with the Ospreys.{{Cite web |title=Filo says sayonara to the Ospreys {{!}} Ospreys |url=https://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/filo-says-sayonara-ospreys |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.ospreysrugby.com |language=en}} Tiatia's family have travelled between Wales, Japan and New Zealand throughout his playing and coaching career.{{Cite web |title=AIMS Games: Filo Tiatia's twins among five daughters of All Blacks playing netball |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/aims-games/115638230/aims-games-filo-tiatias-twins-among-five-daughters-of-all-blacks-playing-netball |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Stuff }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{All Blacks|888}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071115231352/http://ospreys.sportstatdata.com/ST_OSP_1005.aspx?pr=173503 Profile] at [http://www.ospreysrugby.com/ OspreysRugby.com]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tiatia, Filo}}
Category:New Zealand international rugby union players
Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Japan
Category:People educated at Wellington College, Wellington
Category:New Zealand rugby union coaches
Category:New Zealand rugby union players
Category:Wellington rugby union players
Category:Hurricanes (rugby union) players
Category:Toyota Verblitz players
Category:Ospreys (rugby union) players
Category:Rugby union number eights
Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Wales
Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Italy