Malakai Fekitoa

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Malakai Fekitoa

| image = Malakai Fekitoa URC 2023.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Fekitoa representing Benetton in 2023

| fullname = Malakai Fonokalafi Fekitoa

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|05|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ha'apai, Tonga

| height = {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|100|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}

| school = Tonga College
Liahona High School
Wesley College

| university =

| relatives =

| position = Centre, Wing

| currentclub = Benetton

| years1 = 2012–2017

| clubs1 = Auckland

| apps1 = 29

| points1 = 30

| years2 = 2013–2014

| clubs2 = Blues

| apps2 = 6

| points2 = 10

| years3 = 2014–2017

| clubs3 = Highlanders

| apps3 = 65

| points3 = 100

| years4 = 2017–2019

| clubs4 = Toulon

| apps4 = 39

| points4 = 50

| years5 = 2019–2022

| clubs5 = Wasps

| apps5 = 48

| points5 = 35

| years6 = 2022–2023

| clubs6 = Munster

| apps6 = 19

| points6 = 10

| years7 = 2023–

| clubs7 = Benetton

| apps7 = 9

| points7 = 5

| repyears1 = 2014–2017

| repteam1 = New Zealand

| repcaps1 = 24

| reppoints1 = 40

| repyears2 = 2022–

| repteam2 = Tonga

| repcaps2 = 11

| reppoints2 = 0

| clubupdate = 23 January 2024

| repupdate = 23 January 2024

| ru_sevensnationalyears1 = 2021

| ru_sevensnationalteam1 = Tonga

| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 = 1 (4pts)

| ru_sevensupdate = 23 January 2024

}}

Malakai Fonokalafi Fekitoa (born 10 May 1992) is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Benetton and the Tonga national team.{{cite news|url=https://benettonrugby.it/dettaglio-giocatore/?id=186|title=Malakai Fekitoa|work=Benetton Rugby}}

Early life

Fekitoa was born in Haʻapai, Tonga. The son of a carpenter and Meleane Fekitoa, he is the eighth of eight boys and seven girls.Chris Jones and Shanti Das, Vunipolas and Fekitoa in rush to get help for Tonga, Sunday Times, London, 23 January 2022, page 15. After playing for Tonga 7s on a tour of New Zealand, he was offered a rugby scholarship and enrolled at Wesley College.{{cite web | first=David | last=Long | work = Rugby Heaven | url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/7549774/Newcomer-Malakai-Fekitoa-fending-for-himself| title=Newcomer Malakai Fekitoa fending for himself | date=26 August 2012 | publisher= Fairfax | access-date=20 August 2013}}{{cite web | first=Liam | last=Napier | work = Rugby Heaven | url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/72767042/Malakai-Fekitoas-journey-from-Tonga-to-All-Blacks-had-some-timing-issues| title=Malakai Fekitoa's journey from Tonga to All Blacks had some timing issues | date=7 October 2015 | publisher= Fairfax | access-date=3 November 2016}}

Club career

Fekitoa made his debut for {{Rut|Auckland}} in the ITM Cup in 2012, making 12 appearances and scoring 3 tries,{{cite web | url=http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/players/0-Malakai-Fekitoa.aspx | title=Malakai Fekitoa Auckland Player Profile | access-date=1 November 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207184411/http://aucklandrugby.co.nz/players/0-Malakai-Fekitoa.aspx | archive-date=7 February 2013 | df=dmy-all }} and was signed by the {{Rut|Blues}} for the 2013 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/editors-picks/7886453/Auckland-rookie-gets-Blues-Super-call-up |title=Auckland rookie gets Blues Super call-up |publisher=Stuff |date=31 October 2012 |access-date=6 January 2022}}{{cite web | url=http://www.theblues.co.nz/players/0-Malakai-Fekitoa.aspx | title=Malakai Fekitoa Blues Player Profile | access-date=1 November 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209054214/http://www.theblues.co.nz/players/0-Malakai-Fekitoa.aspx | archive-date=9 February 2013 | df=dmy-all }}{{cite press release|url=http://www.theblues.co.nz/News/2012-10-31/Blues-squad-announced-for-2013.aspx |title=Blues squad announced for 2013 |publisher=Blues |date=31 October 2012 |access-date=1 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126083741/http://www.theblues.co.nz/News/2012-10-31/Blues-squad-announced-for-2013.aspx |archive-date=26 January 2013 }} He only made one appearance in 2013 for the Blues against France,{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/classic-hits-keep-coming-for-softly-spoken-fekitoa/UPYJNL5EIOBJCUTD7VM5EPQLHY/ |title=Classic hits keep coming for softly spoken Fekitoa |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=4 October 2013 |access-date=6 January 2022}} and signed with the Highlanders for the 2014 Super Rugby season.{{cite press release | url= http://www.thehighlanders.co.nz/our-news/latest-news | title=Highlanders 2014 Squad Announced | publisher=Highlanders | date=30 October 2013 | access-date=30 January 2014}}{{cite web | first=Jeff | last=Cheshire | url= http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/highlanders/298003/rugby-six-stepping-highlanders | title=Six stepping up for Highlanders | work=Otago Daily Times | date=7 April 2014 | access-date= 7 April 2014}}{{cite web | first=Chris | last=Rattue | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11236751 | title=Fekitoa shows star potential | work=New Zealand Herald | date=11 April 2014| access-date=13 April 2014}}{{cite web | first=Shaun | last=Eade | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/9981635/Fekitoa-pushes-claim-for-place-in-All-Blacks | title=Fekitoa pushes claim for place in All Blacks | work=Rugby Heaven | publisher=Fairfax | date=27 April 2014 | access-date=28 April 2014}} He was a key member of the Highlanders title winning-side in 2015. In July 2017, Fekitoa confirmed that he had signed a two-year contract with French Top 14 side Toulon.{{cite web|url=http://www.planetrugby.com/news/fekitoa-confirms-toulon-move/|title=Fekitoa confirms Toulon move|date=21 July 2017|work=Planet Rugby|access-date=21 July 2017}} In January 2019, it was announced that Fekitoa had signed for English Premiership Rugby side Wasps from the beginning of the 2019–20 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps-capture-all-black-centre-fekitoa/ | title=Wasps capture All Black centre Fekitoa | publisher=Wasps | date=16 January 2019 | access-date=16 January 2019}}

Fekitoa moved to Ireland to join United Rugby Championship club Munster on a two-year contract from the 2022–23 season,{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2022/02/02/malakai-fekitoa-to-join-munster-rugby/|title=Malakai Fekitoa To Join Munster Rugby|date=2 February 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=2 February 2022}} and made his senior competitive debut for the province in their 20–13 defeat away to Welsh side Cardiff in round one of the 2022–23 United Rugby Championship on 17 September 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-beaten-in-cardiff/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Beaten In Cardiff|date=17 September 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=17 September 2022}} Fekitoa featured off the bench in Munster's historic 28–14 win against a South Africa XV in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on 10 November 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-secure-historic-victory-over-sa-select-xv/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Secure Historic Victory Over SA Select XV|date=10 November 2022|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=13 November 2022}} He left Munster upon the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, despite having signed a two-year contract.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/malakai-fekitoa-munster-2-5995352-Feb2023/|title=Munster's Malakai Fekitoa set to depart after one year with the province|date=14 February 2023|work=The42|access-date=14 February 2023}} In his final game for the province, Fekitoa started in Munster's 19–14 win against the Stormers in the final of the 2022–23 United Rugby Championship on 27 May 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-41149351.html|title=Magical Munster see off Stormers to win URC title and end trophy drought|date=27 May 2023|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=27 May 2023}}

Fekitoa joined Italian United Rugby Championship club Benetton on a three-year contract from the 2023–24 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/malakai-fekitoa-3-6014804-Mar2023/|title=Malakai Fekitoa set to leave Munster for Benetton Rugby|date=9 March 2023|work=The42|access-date=10 March 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://benettonrugby.it/colpo-di-mercato-da-urlo-malakai-fekitoa-sara-un-leone/|title=COLPO DI MERCATO DA URLO: MALAKAI FEKITOA SARA' UN LEONE|date=9 March 2023|work=Benetton Rugby|access-date=10 March 2023}}

He made his debut in Round 2 of the 2023–24 season against {{Rut|Munster}}.{{cite news|url=https://benettonrugby.it/a-monigo-i-leoni-pareggiano-13-13-contro-i-campioni-in-carica-di-munster/|title=A MONIGO I LEONI PAREGGIANO 13-13 CONTRO I CAMPIONI IN CARICA DI MUNSTER|work=Benetton Rugby|date=29 October 2023|access-date=29 October 2023}}

International career

= New Zealand =

Fekitoa became eligible for selection for New Zealand after completing three years post-education residency in New Zealand. After completing his residency period, he was selected in the New Zealand squad for the June 2014 test series against England, with coach Steve Hansen having signalled interest in him during the Super Rugby season.{{cite press release | url= http://www.superrugby.co.nz/News/24937/hansen-admits-all-blacks-interest-in-fekitoa | title=Hansen admits All Blacks interest in Fekitoa| publisher=All Blacks | date=4 May 2014| access-date=5 May 2014}} He made his debut as a replacement player in first test of that series, a 20–15 win. With first-choice centre Conrad Smith injured out of the third and final test of the series, Fekitoa moved into the starting XV. His performance earned praise, with the Herald on Sunday saying that "the All Blacks coach has found the most elegant of solutions for Conrad Smith's back-up, one who carries more of an attacking threat than the veteran centre".{{cite news|last1=McKendry|first1=Patrick|title=All Blacks: Fekitoa takes big step up to centre stage|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11279086|access-date=27 June 2014|publisher=Herald on Sunday|date=22 June 2014}}

Fekitoa was selected again in 2014 for the New Zealand squad for the Rugby Championship. He was originally named as a reserve for the first test against Australia, but with Conrad Smith's wife expecting, Fekitoa was called up into the starting XV.Mortimer, James (16 August 2014) [http://www.allblacks.com/News/25691/conrad-to-have-baby-wallabies-to-get-malakai Conrad to have baby, Wallabies to get Malakai]. allblacks.com. Retrieved on 4 November 2015. He was a member of the 2015 Rugby World Cup-winning New Zealand side.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/72009430/four-year-journey-takes-malakai-fekitoa-from-the-rwc-fan-zone-to-the-field |title=Four-year journey takes Malakai Fekitoa from the RWC fan zone to the field |publisher=Stuff |date=14 September 2015 |access-date=6 January 2022}}

Fekitoa became a regular starter for the All Blacks in 2016, combining with Ryan Crotty to form the midfield partnership for the Wales series in June. Fekitoa began to experience very erratic form, and did not play against Argentina and South Africa that year. He lost his starting spot to Anton Lienert-Brown, coming off the bench for the final Bledisloe Cup test and the first Ireland fixture that year. Fekitoa re-gained his starting spot for the next two tests due to Crotty being injured, with Lienert Brown moving to inside centre so that Fekitoa could play outside centre. Fekitoa scored 2 tries in two games, against Italy and Ireland. Fekitoa was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle against Ireland, so was cited and suspended for the final test match of the year.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/38072748 |title=New Zealand's Malakai Fekitoa suspended for high tackle in Ireland match |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 November 2016 |access-date=6 January 2022}}

Fekitoa was not initially selected for the All Blacks in 2017 for the British & Irish Lions tour but was called up for the third test match after Sonny Bill Williams was issued a red card in the second test match.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/94303374/lions-tour-all-blacks-to-send-for-a-midfield-replacement |title=Lions tour: All Blacks call up Malakai Fekitoa for third Lions test |publisher=Stuff |date=2 July 2017 |access-date=6 January 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/07/02/sonny-bill-williams-handed-four-week-suspension-shoulder-charge/ |title=Sonny Bill Williams handed four-week suspension for shoulder charge on Lions wing Anthony Watson |publisher=The Telegraph |date=2 July 2017 |access-date=6 January 2022}} Fekitoa played his final test match for New Zealand on 8 July 2017 in the final test against the Lions, coming off the bench to replace Ngani Laumape.

= Tonga =

In 2022, Fekitoa was selected in the Tongan squad for the 2022 Pacific Nations Cup, having become eligible after World Rugby's eligibility rules were amended to allow for players to switch national allegiance after completing a stand-down period.{{cite web |author1=Stuff sports reporters |title=Israel Folau joins ex-All Blacks Malakai Fekitoa and Salesi (Charles) Piutau in Tonga squad |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/128780061/israel-folau-joins-exall-blacks-malakai-fekitoa-and-salesi-charles-piutau-in-tonga-squad |website=Stuff |access-date=30 May 2022 |date=27 May 2022}} He made his debut for Tonga on 2 July 2022, in a 36–0 loss to Fiji.{{cite news|url=https://www.world.rugby/match/29984|title=Fiji 36 Tonga 0|date=2 July 2022|work=World Rugby|access-date=28 July 2022}} He played in 3 matches in the Rugby World Cup 2023 with a 59% tackle success.{{Cite web |last=rugbybworldcup.com |title=Malakai Fekitoa (Tonga) {{!}} Rugby World Cup 2023 |url=https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/teams/tonga/player/43605 |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=www.rugbyworldcup.com |language=en}}

Honours

= Fundraising =

Following the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami, Fekitoa, whose family still lives in Tonga, set up a fundraising appeal to provide aid, raising in excess of £50,000.{{cite news|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/malakai-fekitoa-wasps-tonga-appeal-22928026|title=Malakai Fekitoa's one call from Tonga: 'She's still devastated, the sound of her voice'|date=31 January 2022|work=Coventry Telegraph|access-date=20 February 2022}} Wasps, Fekitoa's club at the time, supported his fundraising effort by donating 20% of the match ticket revenue from their fixture against Saracens on 30 January 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps-to-support-malakai-fekitoa-s-fundraising-efforts-for-the-tongan-tsunami/|title=Wasps to support Malakai Fekitoa's fundraising efforts for the Tongan tsunami|date=21 January 2022|work=Wasps RFC|access-date=20 February 2022}}

; Munster

1× United Rugby Championship: 2023

; New Zealand

1× Rugby World Cup: 2015

References

External links

[https://www.munsterrugby.ie/player?PlayGuid=MF986512 Munster Profile]
[https://www.wasps.co.uk/teams/wasps-rugby-men/malakai-fekitoa/#21/22 Wasps Profile]
{{EPCR profile|MF986512}}
[https://www.premiershiprugby.com/player/?PlayGuid=MF986512&TeamId=6 Premiership Rugby Profile]
{{sports links}}

Category:1992 births

Category:Living people

Category:Rugby union players from Haʻapai

Category:Tongan emigrants to New Zealand

Category:People educated at Wesley College, Auckland

Category:Tongan rugby union players

Category:New Zealand rugby union players

Category:Auckland rugby union players

Category:Blues (Super Rugby) players

Category:Highlanders (rugby union) players

Category:RC Toulon players

Category:Wasps RFC players