Taione Vea
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Taione Vea
| caption =
| birth_name = Taione Vea
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|12|01|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
| height = {{convert|1.89|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|126|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| school = Westlake Boys High School
| university =
| relatives =
| occupation = Former Professional Rugby Player
| ru_position = Prop
| ru_sevensnationalyears =
| ru_sevensnationalteam =
| ru_amateurclubs =
| ru_clubyears = 2013–2014
2014–2015
2015–2016
| ru_proclubs = {{nobreak|Wasps
London Welsh
Newcastle Falcons}}
| ru_clubpoints = (5)
(10)
(5)
| ru_clubcaps = 16
23
24
| ru_coachclubs =
| ru_coachyears =
| Image =
| nickname =
| ru_amateuryears =
| ru_amupdate =
| ru_nationalyears = 2013
| ru_nationalteam = Tonga
| ru_nationalcaps = 6
| ru_nationalpoints = (0)
| ru_ntupdate =
| ru_clubupdate =
| ru_province = North Harbour
| ru_provinceyears = 2010–2013
| ru_provincecaps = 16
| ru_provincepoints = (0)
| ru_provinceupdate =
| ru_sevensnationalcaps =
| ru_sevensnationalpoints =
| ru_sevensupdate =
| ru_coachupdate =
| other =
| family =
| spouse =
| children =
}}
Taione Vea (born 1 December 1988) is a former Tonga rugby union player who most recently played for Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership, and represented the Tonga national team on six occasions in 2013.
Club career
Vea first joined the New Zealand outfit North Harbour, in 2010 to compete in the ITM Cup campaigns. After three years, he moved to England as he was signed by Wasps ahead of the 2013–14 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23254368|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Wasps sign Tonga international Taione Vea|date=10 July 2013|accessdate=13 November 2014}} On 11 June 2014, Vea signed for newly promoted side London Welsh ahead of the 2014–15 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jun/11/tonga-taione-vea-london-welsh-rugby|publisher=The Guardian|title=Tonga’s Taione Vea leads six-strong influx at promoted London Welsh|date=11 June 2014|accessdate=13 November 2014}} On 17 March 2015, Vea signed for Newcastle Falcons for the upcoming 2015–16 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/31921553|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Newcastle Falcons sign TOnga prop Taione Vea from London Welsh|date=17 March 2015|accessdate=20 December 2015}} Due to a serious spinal injury he suffered during the Aviva Premiership game against Sale Sharks on 2 September 2016, Vea was unfortunately forced to retire from rugby.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/news/story/Vea-forced-to-retire|title=Vea forced to retire|last=|first=|date=24 October 2016|website=www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk|publisher=|access-date=26 October 2016}}
International career
Vea made his international debut for Tonga, where he started in the 2013 IRB Pacific Nations Cup defeating Japan 27–17.{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/183458.html|publisher=ESPN scrum|title=Tonga 27-17 Japan, 2013 Pacific National Cup}} His last test appearance came to the 2013 Autumn Internationals where they were defeated by Wales 17–7.{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/match/180663.html|publisher= ESPN scrum|title=Wales 17-7 Tonga, 2013 Autumn Internationals}}
He was selected again for Tonga for the 2014 Autumn Internationals.{{cite news|url=http://www.planetrugby.co.uk/story/0,25883,3894_9517020,00.html|publisher=Planet Rugby|title=Tonga squad announced for November|date=14 October 2014|accessdate=13 November 2014}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.london-welsh.co.uk/index.php?mod=rugby_squad&id=158 London Welsh Profile]
- [http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-22113.html It's Rugby Profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vea, Taione}}
Category:Rugby union players from Auckland
Category:Tongan rugby union players
Category:Tonga international rugby union players
Category:London Welsh RFC players
Category:Newcastle Falcons players