Tevita Taufuʻi
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = Tevita Taufu{{okina}}i
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|3|21}}
| birth_place =
| height = {{convert|1.82|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|88|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school =
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Centre
| currentclub = {{Rut|Waikato}}
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2009–13
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Manawatu}}
| apps1 = 16
| points1 = 20
| years2 = 2016
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Waikato}}
| apps2 = 11
| points2 = 10
| years3 =
| clubs3 =
| apps3 =
| points3 =
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 =
| amatcaps1 =
| amatpoints1 =
| repyears1 = 2016–
| repteam1 = {{nrut|Tonga}}
| repcaps1 = 2
| reppoints1 = 0
| repyears2 =
| repteam2 =
| repcaps2 =
| reppoints2 =
| clubupdate = 19 November 2016
| repupdate = 10 July 2017
}}
Tevita Taufu{{okina}}i (born 21 March 1988) is a Tongan rugby union player who played as a centre for {{rut|Waikato}} and {{rut|Manawatu}} in New Zealand's national provincial competitions and for the Tonga national rugby union team.{{cite web | url=http://en.espn.co.uk/newzealand/rugby/player/120551.html | title=Tevita Taufu'i ESPN Scrum Player Profile | publisher=ESPN Scrum | accessdate=19 November 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://www.mooloo.co.nz/team/2016-player-profiles/show/109 | title=Tevita Taufui Waikato Player Profile | publisher=Mooloo Rugby | accessdate=19 November 2016}}
Senior career
After debuting for the Manawatu Turbos during the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup, the next 5 years of his career were ones of ups and downs. Making the ITM Cup squad in 3 of his 5 seasons in Manawatu, playing 16 times and scoring 3 tries. Stifled by a lack of opportunities, he headed to Waikato and played club rugby with the Melville Club.
2016 was his breakthrough year; after helping Melville to win a first Breweries Shield in 35 years in July, he was named in Waikato's 2016 Mitre 10 Cup squad. He debuted for the Mooloo in their Ranfurly Shield defence against Thames Valley on 6 June 2016 and made 11 Ranfurly Shield and Mitre 10 Cup appearances during the season, scoring 2 tries in the process.{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_17856.html | title=Tevita Taufu{{okina}}i itsrugby Player Statistics | publisher=it's rugby | accessdate=19 November 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/85764270/tevita-taufui-is-set-for-tongas-european-tour-after-winning-waikato-club-award | title=Tevita Taufui is set for Tonga's European tour after winning Waikato club award | publisher=Rugby Heaven | date = 27 October 2016 | accessdate=19 November 2016}}
International
Taufu{{okina}}i earned a call up to the {{nrut|Tonga}} squad ahead of the 2016 end-of-year rugby union internationals and earned his first cap as a second-half replacement in a 28–13 win over {{nrut|Spain}} on 12 November 2016.{{cite web | url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/315009/sport-tonga-make-mass-changes-for-november-rugby-tour | title=Sport: Tonga make mass changes for November rugby tour | publisher=Radio NZ | date = 7 October 2016 | accessdate=19 November 2016}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taufui, Tevita}}
Category:Tongan rugby union players
Category:Tonga international rugby union players
Category:Waikato rugby union players