Sona Taumalolo
{{short description|Tongan rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date= December 2012}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Sona Taumalolo
| image = Alisona Taumalolo 2011.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = France vs Tonga during 2011 Rugby World Cup
| fullname = Faka'ānaua ki 'Alisona Taumalolo,
also known as Arizona Taumalolo or Sona Tafuna (former nickname)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age| 1981|11|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Ha'akame, Tonga
| height = {{ convert|1.85|m|ftin|0|abbr=on }}
| weight = {{ convert|112|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on }}
| school = Tupou College, Tonga
| university =
| relatives = Ben Tameifuna (nephew)
| occupation =
| position = Loosehead prop
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2005-2011, 2020
| clubs1 = {{rut|Hawke's Bay}}
| apps1 = 64
| points1 = 90
| years2 = 2009-2012
| clubs2 = {{rut|Chiefs}}
| apps2 = 52
| points2 = 75
| years3 = 2012-2014
| clubs3 = Perpignan
| apps3 = 52
| points3 = 20
| years4 = 2014-2015
| clubs4 = Racing Métro
| apps4 = 0
| points4 = 0
| years5 = 2015-2018
| clubs5 = Grenoble
| apps5 = 70
| points5 = 70
| years6 = 2018-2020
| clubs6 = Provence
| apps6 = 31
| points6 = 15
| repyears1 = 2011-2015, 2021
| repteam1 = Tonga
| repcaps1 = 21
| reppoints1 = 20
| repyears2 = 2014
| repteam2 = Barbarian F.C.
| repcaps2 = 1
| reppoints2 = 0
| repyears3 = 2014
| repteam3 = World XV
| repcaps3 = 1
| reppoints3 = 0
| clubupdate = 8 February 2021
| repupdate = 25 July 2021
}}
Sona Taumalolo (born 13 November 1981) is a former professional rugby union player. He played at prop for {{rut|Hawke's Bay}} in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup competition; the {{rut|Chiefs}} in Super Rugby; several French clubs; and the Tonga national team. He retired at the end of the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup season.
Early and personal life
Taumalolo was born in Tonga, where he attended Tupou College.{{cite web | url=http://www.chiefs.co.nz/The-Team/Player-Profiles-/Sona-Taumalolo/ | title=Sona Taumalolo Chiefs Player Profile | website=Chiefs | language=en | access-date=6 February 2021 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927094232/http://www.chiefs.co.nz/The-Team/Player-Profiles-/Sona-Taumalolo/ | archive-date=27 September 2011}} In 2001, he emigrated to New Zealand.{{cite web | first=Shane | last=Hurndell | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/rugby-theres-only-one-arizona/4PGL7HIJM46WWCHWJZCCUSOOZE/ | title=There's only one Arizona | work=Hawke's Bay Today | publisher=APN Holdings |date=30 July 2005 | access-date=16 July 2012}}
He is the uncle of New Zealand-born Tonga representative Ben Tameifuna.
Senior career
=Hawke's Bay=
Having represented Auckland at under 21 level, Taumalolo made the step up to senior rugby in 2005. After playing for Clive Rugby & Sports Club in Hawke's Bay's club rugby competition, Taumalolo was - for the first time - named in the Magpies squad for the 2005 National Provincial Championship (Division 2). He made his {{rut|Hawke's Bay}} debut on Saturday 13 August 2005 against Nelson Bays and scored a try on debut.{{Cite web | url=https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/uploads/npc/results/Hawkes_Bay_rugby_results.pdf | title=Hawkes Bay Rugby Results 1974 - 2019 | website= NZ Rugby History | language=en | access-date=6 February 2021}} From 2005 to 2011, he represented Hawke's Bay in 61 games, of which 10 National Provincial Championship games, 39 Air New Zealand Cup games and 6 ITM Cup games.{{Cite web | url=https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/fakaanaua-k-a-taumalolo | title=NZ Rugby History Player Profile | website=NZ Rugby History | language=en | access-date=6 February 2021}}
In 2020, Taumalolo returned to Hawke's Bay from France to play one last Mitre 10 Cup season for the Magpies, taking the field in 3 games.{{cite web | url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/sona-taumalolo-returns-to-magpies/ | title=Sona Taumalolo returns to Magpies | website=allblacks.com | language=en | publication-date=3 July 2020 | access-date=7 February 2021}} He retired from professional rugby at the end of a season that saw the Magpies win the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup Championship title and the Ranfurly Shield.{{cite web | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/the-birdie-dozen-12-magpies-named-in-super-rugby-squads/YB7L3C2GL3IL6OUYZRNRHHCV4E/ | title=The birdie dozen: 12 Magpies named in Super Rugby squads | publisher=Hawke's Bay Today | date=3 December 2020 | access-date=7 February 2021}}
=Chiefs=
Taumalolo first joined the {{rut|Chiefs}} for the 2009 Super 14 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/squads/55023/2009-Chiefs-squad | title=2009 Chiefs squad | publisher=Stuff NZ | date=5 February 2009 | access-date=7 February 2021}} He made his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs on 14 February 2009 against the Crusaders.
The 2012 Super Rugby season was his last, but also his most successful season with the Chiefs. Not only did the Chiefs win their first Super Rugby title that year,{{cite web | url=https://super.rugby/superrugby/news/chiefs-win-2012-super-rugby-championship/ | title=Chiefs win 2012 Super Rugby Championship | website=SANZAAR | language=en | publication-date=4 August 2012 | access-date=7 February 2021}} Taumalolo also scored 9 tries, placing him in equal third place on the 'top try scorer' list of the 2012 season.{{cite web | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/tryscorers.aspx?leagueid=1041&fullview=true | title=SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2012 Vodacom Super Rugby | website=South African Rugby Union | language=en | access-date=7 February 2021| url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170216172919/http://www.sarugby.co.za/tryscorers.aspx?leagueid=1041&fullview=true | archive-date=16 February 2017}}
=Perpignan=
In June 2012, it was announced that Taumalolo had signed a three-year contract with French club Perpignan that competed in the Top 14 competition.{{cite web | url= http://fr.usap.fr/articles-6/101-1685-sona-taumalolo/ | title=Sona Taumalolo | website= USAP | language=fr | date=7 June 2012 | access-date=6 February 2021 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613223835/http://fr.usap.fr/articles-6/101-1685-sona-taumalolo/ | archive-date=13 June 2012}}{{cite web | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/rugby-sono-taumalolos-perpignan-bound/YNZL225ZW7IFS3BKTOZRWBYSHQ/ | title=Sono Taumalolo's Perpignan bound | publisher=Hawke's Bay Today | date=8 June 2012 | access-date=7 February 2021}} During his first two seasons with the club, he also played games for the Amlin Challenge Cup and Heineken Cup.{{ cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/players/fakaanauakialisona-taumalolo-6138.html | title=Sona Taumalolo Player Statistics | website=itsrugby.co.uk | language=en | access-date=7 February 2021}} Perpignan was relegated after the 2013–14 season to the 2nd tier Pro D2 competition.
=Racing-Métro=
At the start of the 2014–15 Top 14 season, Taumalolo joined Racing Métro as an injury replacement ("joker médical"),{{cite web | url=https://www.planetrugby.com/racing-confirm-taumalolo-move/
| title=Racing confirm Taumalolo move | website=PlanetRugby | language=en | publication-date=15 September 2014 | access-date=7 February 2021}} but he didn't play a single game for the club.
=Grenoble=
In June 2015, Grenoble announced that Taumalolo would join the club ahead of the 2015–16 Top 14 season.{{cite press release | url=http://fcgrugby.com/index.php/a-la-une/6411-sona-taumalolo-sengage-avec-le-fcg | title=Sona Taumalolo au FCG | publisher=FC Grenoble | language=fr |date=16 June 2015 | access-date=7 February 2021 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619215934/http://fcgrugby.com/index.php/a-la-une/6411-sona-taumalolo-sengage-avec-le-fcg | archive-date=19 June 2015}} During that first season, he played with Grenoble for the European Rugby Challenge Cup. However, after his second season with the club, Grenoble was relegated to the Pro D2 for the 2017-18 season.{{cite web | url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2017/04/15/grenoble-relegated-pro-d2/
| title=Grenoble Relegated to Pro D2 | website=Americas Rugby News | language=en | publication-date=15 April 2017| access-date=7 February 2021}} Their stay in the Pro D2 didn't last long; at the end of the season, the club secured promotion back to the Top 14 for the 2018-19 season after defeating Oyonnax in a promotion/relegation match. Taumalolo scored a total of 8 tries that season, including one try in that last match.{{cite web | url=https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2017-2018/grenoble-remporte-le-match-d-accession-contre-oyonnax-et-revient-dans-l-elite_sto6751932/story.shtml | title=Grenoble remporte le match d'accession contre Oyonnax et revient dans l'élite | publisher=Rugbyrama | language=fr | date=12 May 2018 | access-date=7 February 2021}}
In May 2018, Taumalolo re-signed with Grenoble for another season.{{cite press release | url=http://fcgrugby.com/fr/articles/2018/05/31/one-more-year-for-sona-taumalolo | title=One more year for Sona Taumalolo | publisher=FC Grenoble | date=31 May 2018 | access-date=7 February 2021}} However, after medical tests, he was declared unfit to continue playing due to "spinal anomalies" and Grenoble terminated his contract.{{cite press release | url=http://fcgrugby.com/en/articles/2018/06/30/sona-taumalolo-must-retire | title=Sona Taumalolo must retire | publisher=FC Grenoble | date=30 June 2018 | access-date=7 February 2021}}
=Provence Rugby=
The medical decision that ended Taumalolo's career at Grenoble was reversed just over a month later by independent doctors mandated by the LNR (French National Rugby League) and he was allowed to play again. On 18 September 2018, Pro D2 club Provence Rugby - promoted from Fédérale 1 at the end of the 2017–18 season - announced the signing of Taumalolo as an additional player ("joueur supplémentaire").{{cite press release | url=https://www.provencerugby.com/actualite/a-la-une/taumalolo-un-tongien-en-provence/ | title=Taumalolo, un Tongien en Provence | publisher=Provence Rugby | language=fr | date=18 September 2018 | access-date=7 February 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://sport24.lefigaro.fr/rugby/pro-d2/fil-info/taumalolo-rebondit-a-provence-rugby-925746 | title=Taumalolo rebondit à Provence Rugby | work=Le Figaro | language=fr | date=19 September 2018 | access-date=7 February 2021}} Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the French domestic competition was suspended in March 2020,{{cite press release | url=https://www.top14-rugby.com/en-US/top14news/top-14-and-pro-d2-championships-suspended | title=Top 14 and Pro D2 Championships suspended | website=Ligue Nationale de Rugby | language=en | date=14 March 2020 |access-date=7 February 2021}} cutting short his second season with the club. He returned home to Hawke's Bay in New Zealand.
International career
Taumalolo represented Tonga at under-19 level at the 2000 IRB-FIRA U19 World Cup (Division B) held in France.{{cite web | url=http://www.rugbyarchive.net/compseasons/19?Stagione=2000 | title=IRB-FIRA U19 World Cup (Division B) |website=The Rugby Archive | language=en | access-date=7 February 2021}}
On 2 July 2011, Taumalolo made his senior international debut for Tonga against Fiji in the 2011 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.
He scored a try on debut.{{cite web | url=http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/story/0,25883,3830_7014814,00.html
| title=Tonga down Fiji in Nations Cup opener | website=PlanetRugby | language=en | publication-date=2 July 2011 | access-date=7 February 2021| url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012014119/http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/story/0,25883,3830_7014814,00.html | archive-date=12 October 2011}} In the first game of the 2011 Rugby World Cup against New Zealand, Taumalolo scored his country's only try in a 41–10 loss.{{cite web | first=James | last=Standley | title=Rugby World Cup 2011: New Zealand 41-10 Tonga | url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/14813552 | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=9 September 2011}} He played the last of his 20 test matches - also against New Zealand - during the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He scored a total of 4 tries (20 points) during his international career.{{Cite web | url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/91578.html | title=Sona Taumalolo ESPN Player Profile | website=ESPN | language=en | access-date=7 February 2021}}
Taumalolo has also played for the Barbarians. On 1 June 2014, the "Baabaas" defeated an England XV side 39 to 29 at Twickenham, London.{{cite web | url=http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/news/barbarians-slip-into-top-gear/ | title=Barbarians slip into top Gear | website=Barbarians RFC | language=en | publication-date=1 June 2014 | access-date=7 February 2021}} Six days later, he also played for the World XV team against South Africa in Cape Town.{{cite web | url=https://rugbyredefined.com/wp/uncategorized/2014/06/result-sth-africa-47-v-13-world-xv-7th-june-2014/ | title=Result: Sth Africa 47 v 13 World XV – 7th June 2014 | website=RugbyRedefined | language=en | publication-date=8 June 2014 | access-date=7 February 2021}}
Taumalolo made a shock international return for Tonga against the Cook Islands in a qualification match for the 2023 Rugby World Cup on 24 July 2021, called out of retirement as injury cover for Jethro Felemi.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/447595/teammates-turned-rivals-in-tonga-vs-cook-islands-clash |title=Teammates turned rivals in Tonga vs Cook Islands clash |work=Radio New Zealand |accessdate=25 July 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Tonga Squad 2015 Rugby World Cup}}
{{Tonga Squad 2011 Rugby World Cup}}
{{Barbarians Summer tour 2014 squad }}
{{World XV 2014 squad|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taumalolo, Sona}}
Category:Rugby union players from Tongatapu
Category:Tongan rugby union players
Category:Tonga international rugby union players
Category:Pacific Islanders rugby union players
Category:Hawke's Bay rugby union players
Category:Chiefs (Super Rugby) players
Category:USA Perpignan players
Category:FC Grenoble Rugby players
Category:Provence Rugby players
Category:Tongan emigrants to New Zealand
Category:Tongan expatriate rugby union players in New Zealand
Category:Tongan expatriate rugby union players in France