Mark Tele'a
{{short description|New Zealand rugby union player}}
{{expand French|topic=bio|date=December 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Mark Tele'a
| image = Mark Telea.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Tele'a representing New Zealand during the 2024 Rugby Championship
| fullname = Mark Evander Tele'a
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|12|06|df=y}}
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
| height = {{convert|1.86|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|94|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| school = Massey High School
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Wing
| currentclub = North Harbour, Blues
| years1 = 2016–2019, 2022–
| clubs1 = {{rut|North Harbour}}
| apps1 = 35
| points1 = 60
| years2 = 2020–
| clubs2 = Blues
| apps2 = 78
| points2 = 200
| years3 = 2020–2021
| clubs3 = Tasman
| apps3 = 14
| points3 = 20
| points4 = 20
| repyears1 = 2022–
| repteam1 = New Zealand
| repcaps1 = 19
| reppoints1 = 65
| clubupdate = 31 May 2025
| repupdate = 31 May 2025
| medals =
{{MedalSport | Men's rugby union}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ru|NZL}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | Rugby World Cup}}
{{MedalSilver | 2023 France | Team competition}}
| show-medals = no
}}
Mark Evander Tele'a (born 6 December 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a Wing for the Blues in Super Rugby and North Harbour in the Bunnings NPC. {{cite web | url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/player/view/9383 | title=Mark Telea | publisher=Ultimate Rugby | accessdate=12 November 2019}}{{cite press release | url=https://blues.rugby/hard-work-edict-for-blues-2020-squad/ | title=Hard work edict for Blues 2020 squad | publisher=Blues | date=12 November 2019 | accessdate=12 November 2019 | archive-date=12 November 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112100422/https://blues.rugby/hard-work-edict-for-blues-2020-squad/ | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=https://www.rugbypass.com/mitre-10-cup/teams/north-harbour/players/mark-telea/ | title=Mark Telea | publisher=Rugby Pass | accessdate=12 November 2019}}{{cite news | url=http://www.superrugby.co.nz/News/34702/investec-super-rugby-class-of-2020-announced | title=Investec Super Rugby class of 2020 announced | publisher=Super Rugby NZ | date=12 November 2019 | accessdate=12 November 2019}}{{cite web | url=https://blues.rugby/players/mark-telea/ | title=Mark Telea | publisher=blues.rugby | accessdate=25 May 2021}}
Club career
After showing promising form for {{Rut|North Harbour}} during the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup season, Tele'a was named in the {{rut|Blues}} squad for the 2020 Super Rugby season. Tele'a started the campaign as the first choice left wing for the Blues. Tele'a rewarded the faith of Blues staff, impressing with his early season form. Tele'a scored 3 tries during a Round 2 fixture, as the Blues defeated the Waratahs 32-12 in rainy conditions in Newcastle. Tele'a crossed again in Round 4 vs the Bulls in Pretoria, scoring impressively to dot the ball down as two defenders forced him into touch. He continued his good form in Super Rugby Aotearoa and in mid 2020 he was chosen for the North Island in the North vs South rugby union match. Tele'a was named in the {{rut|Tasman}} squad for the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup making his debut for the Mako in Round 1 against {{rut|Counties Manukau}}.{{cite web | url=https://www.mako.nz/tasman-makos/mark-talea | title=Mark Telea | publisher=mako.nz | accessdate=7 October 2020}} Tele'a played 11 games for the Mako in the 2020 season as they went on to win their second premiership title in a row. Tele'a had a mixed 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season but returned to form during the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition, scoring a try in the final as the Blues defeated the {{rut|Highlanders}} 23-15. In Round 3 of the 2021 Bunnings NPC Tele'a suffered a season ending injury while playing for Tasman against {{rut|Northland}}. The side went on to make the final before losing 23–20 to {{rut|Waikato}}. He was part of the Blues team which won the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final.
International career
On 30 June 2022, after an impressive 2022 Super Rugby season with the Blues, Tele'a was called in to the All Blacks squad as a replacement.
On 12 November 2022, he was named at 14 in the starting lineup to go up against Scotland. During his debut match he scored two tries.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-14 |title=Telea double helps the All Blacks home at Murrayfield |url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/telea-double-helps-the-all-blacks-home-at-murrayfield/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=allblacks.com |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite news |date=2022-11-13 |title=Telea double sees All Blacks hold off feisty Scotland challenge |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/telea-double-sees-all-blacks-hold-off-feisty-scotland-challenge-2022-11-13/ |access-date=2022-11-15}}
Tele'a was a member of the starting lineup for the All Blacks side during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. On 8 September, in the opening game of the World Cup against France, he scored two tries, with the first try of the competition within 91 seconds of the start of the game being the fastest World Cup opening try to date.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/france-vs-new-zealand/report/106060|title=Match Report France 27-13 New Zealand|publisher=Sky Sports|author=Michael Cantillon|date=|access-date=11 September 2023}} He was dropped by New Zealand ahead of their quarter-final match against Ireland due to a breach of team protocol.{{Cite news |last=McLaughlin |first=Luke |date=2023-10-12 |title=All Blacks drop Mark Telea against Ireland for disciplinary issue |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/oct/12/all-blacks-drop-mark-telea-against-ireland-for-disciplinary-issue |access-date=2023-11-03 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-13 |title=Mark Telea dropped by New Zealand for Ireland Rugby World Cup quarter-final due to disciplinary breach |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/15176/12983376/mark-telea-dropped-by-new-zealand-for-ireland-rugby-world-cup-quarter-final-due-to-disciplinary-breach |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}} He returned for their semi-final clash against Argentina.{{Cite web |last=Morton |first=Finn |date=2023-10-18 |title=Mark Telea returns as All Blacks name team for World Cup semi-final |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/wing-mark-telea-returns-as-all-blacks-name-team-for-world-cup-semi-final/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=www.rugbypass.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hinton |first=Marc |date=2023-10-18 |title=Rugby World Cup: Errant wing Mark Telea returns to All Blacks lineup for semifinal |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby-world-cup-2023/300992049/rugby-world-cup-errant-wing-mark-telea-returns-to-all-blacks-lineup-for-semifinal |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Stuff |language=en}} He also featured in the grand final, which the All Blacks narrowly lost to the Springboks by a single point.{{Cite news |last=Kitson |first=Robert |date=2023-10-28 |title=South Africa beat New Zealand to win men's Rugby World Cup final |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/oct/28/south-africa-beat-new-zealand-to-win-mens-rugby-world-cup-final |access-date=2023-11-03 |issn=0029-7712}}{{Cite web |last=Cantillon |first=Michael |date=2023-10-29 |title=New Zealand 11-12 South Africa: Handre Pollard kicks Springboks to Rugby World Cup triumph after Sam Cane red card |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12337/12994931/new-zealand-11-12-south-africa-handre-pollard-kicks-springboks-to-rugby-world-cup-triumph-after-sam-cane-red-card |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}
Tele'a was awarded World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year at the conclusion of the World Cup.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-30 |title=Ardie Savea named World Rugby Men's Player of the Year 2023 |url=https://www.world.rugby/news/884118/world-rugby-awards-winners-2023 |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=www.world.rugby}}{{Cite web |last=Sutton |first=Harry |date=2023-11-01 |title=Looking back on the All Blacks Unforgettable RWC Highlights |url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/looking-back-on-the-all-blacks-unforgettable-rwc-highlights/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=allblacks.com |language=en-NZ}}
Personal life
He qualified for three countries as Tele'a’s father is a Xhosa South African while his mother is Samoan.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Mariette |date=2022-11-11 |title=South African-qualified wing to debut for All Blacks |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/rugby/south-african-qualified-wing-to-debut-for-all-blacks-breaking-news-11-november-2022/ |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=The South African |language=en-ZA}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
- {{All Blacks|id=1207|name=Mark Telea}}
{{Blues squad}}
{{North Harbour NPC squad}}
{{New Zealand 2023 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Telea, Mark}}
Category:New Zealand rugby union players
Category:North Harbour rugby union players
Category:Blues (Super Rugby) players
Category:Tasman rugby union players
Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen
Category:New Zealand sportspeople of Samoan descent
Category:New Zealand people of South African descent
Category:New Zealand international rugby union players