Saimone Taumoepeau

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Saimone Taumoepeau

| image =Stade toulousain vs Castres olympique 0306.JPG

| caption =

| birth_name =

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|12|21}}

| birth_place = Ha'apai, Tonga

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{convert|1.86|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|111|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

| ru_position = Prop Hooker

| ru_amateuryears =

| ru_amateurclubs = Auckland Marist

| ru_amateurcaps =

| ru_amateurpoints =

| ru_amupdate = 1 Sept 2006

| ru_nationalteam = {{nowrap|{{ru|New Zealand}}}}

| ru_nationalyears = 2004-2005

| ru_nationalcaps = 3

| ru_nationalpoints = (5)

| ru_ntupdate = 1 Sept 2006

| ru_clubyears = 2007-2011
2011-2016
2016
2016-

| ru_proclubs = RC Toulonnais
Castres Olympique
CA Brive
AS Lavaur

| ru_clubcaps = 101
96
2
47

| ru_clubpoints = (40)
(35)
(0)
(10)

| ru_clubupdate = 2 November 2018

| super14 = {{flagicon|New Zealand}} Blues

| super14years = 2005-2007

| super14caps =23

| super14points = (5)

| ru_currentteam =

| super14update = 9 September 2006

| ru_province = Auckland

| ru_provinceyears = 2004-2007

| ru_provincecaps = 32

| ru_provincepoints = (20)

| ru_provinceupdate = 9 September 2006

| ru_sevensnationalyears =

| ru_sevensnationalteam =

| ru_sevensupdate =

| ru_coachclubs =

| ru_coachyears =

| ru_coachupdate =

| occupation =

| spouse = Ilisapeti Taumoepeau

| children = Bénir And Donatienne Taumoepeau

| relatives = Tevita Taumoepeau (brother)

| school = Tupou College Tonga

| university =

}}

Saimone Taumoepeau (born 21 December 1979 in Ha'apai, Tonga) is a professional rugby union player in France. He is the younger brother of Tevita Taumoepeau.

Career

Born in Tonga, Taumoepeau emigrated to New Zealand in 1997.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/silent-partner-is-a-scrumming-dynamo/2P46JXQDZSS7NHNCSBHX7MMTH4/ |author=Chris Rattue |title=Silent partner is a scrumming dynamo |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=26 October 2004 |access-date=26 October 2021}} Taumoepeau was a shock selection in the 2004 end-of-year All Blacks squad after having only made his debut that season in provincial rugby's Air New Zealand Cup and having yet to play Super Rugby.{{cite web |url=https://blues.rugby/players/saimone-taumoepeau/ |title=Saimone Taumoepeau |publisher=Blues |access-date=26 October 2021}} He first made his name as a loosehead prop, but made his debut as a hooker for the Junior All Blacks. He played his rugby for Auckland at provincial level and the Blues at Super 14 level before moving to French club Toulon.{{cite news |title=The Quiet Man |author=Michel Estienne |work=NZ Rugby World |issue=164 |pages=62–65 |date=1 January 2014 |via=EBSCOHost}}

While considered to be on the smaller side of the scale compared to most international props in terms of physical size, Taumoepeau has made a reputation for being a devastating scrummager via technique and brute strength. He also proved to be a reliable hooker for both Auckland, the Blues and at Junior All Blacks level.

Taumoepeau signed with Toulon in 2007,{{cite web |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2018/06/17/2819564-saimone-taumoepeau-un-homme-humble-qui-force-le-respect.html |title=Lavaur. Saimone Taumoepeau, un homme humble qui force le respect |publisher=LaDepeche.fr |date=17 June 2018 |access-date=26 October 2021 |language=fr}} having joined them after that year's New Zealand season and won the French Pro D2 Championship 2007–2008. He played for Castres Olympique between 2011 and 2016, and won the French top 14 Championship in 2012–13.