Malakai Fekitoa

Malakai Fekitoa
Malakai Fekitoa playing for the All Blacks
Full name Malakai Fonokalafi Fekitoa
Date of birth (1992-05-10) 10 May 1992
Place of birth Ha'apai, Tonga
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in)
Weight 99 kg (15 st 8 lb)
School Tonga College,
Liahona High School &
Wesley College
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Centre
New Zealand No. 1131
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2012– Auckland 23 (25)
correct as of 16 October 2016.
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2013
2014–		 Blues
Highlanders		 0
49		 (0)
(70)
correct as of 31 July 2016.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2014– New Zealand 23 (40)
correct as of 19 November 2016.

Malakai Fonokalafi Fekitoa (born 10 May 1992) is a New Zealand rugby union rugby player who plays as a second five-eighth or centre. He plays for The Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, for Auckland in the ITM Cup, and for New Zealand internationally. He was a member of the title-winning 2015 Highlanders side, and of the 2015 Rugby World Cup winning New Zealand side.

Early life

Fekitoa was born in Ha'apai, Tonga. After playing for Tonga 7 on a tour of New Zealand, he was offered a rugby scholarship and enrolled at Wesley College.[1] [2]

Career

He made his debut for Auckland in the ITM Cup in 2012,[1] making 12 appearances and scoring 3 tries,[3] and was signed by the Blues for the 2013 season.[4][5] However, he only made one appearance in 2013 for the Blues against France, and signed with the Highlanders for the 2014 Super Rugby season.[6][7][8][9] He was a key member of the Highlanders title winning-side in 2015.

All Blacks

Fekitoa was only eligible for selection for the All Blacks after completing three years post-education residency in New Zealand. After completing his residency period, he was selected as a rookie in the All Blacks squad for the June 2014 test series against England, with coach Steve Hansen having signalled interest in him during the Super Rugby season.[10] He made his debut as a replacement player in first test of that series, a 15–20 win. With first-choice centre Conrad Smith injured out of the third and final test of the series, Fekitoa moved into the starting XV. His performance earned praise, with the Herald on Sunday saying that "the All Blacks coach has found the most elegant of solutions for Conrad Smith's back-up, one who carries more of an attacking threat than the veteran centre".[11]

Fekitoa was selected again in 2014 for the All Blacks squad for The Rugby Championship. He was originally named as a reserve for the first test against Australia, however, with Conrad Smith and his wife expecting, Fekitoa was called up into the starting XV.[12] He was a member of the 2015 Rugby World Cup winning New Zealand side

References

  1. 1 2 Long, David (26 August 2012). "Newcomer Malakai Fekitoa fending for himself". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Napier, Liam (7 October 2015). "Malakai Fekitoa's journey from Tonga to All Blacks had some timing issues". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  3. ↑ "Malakai Fekitoa Auckland Player Profile". Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  4. ↑ "Malakai Fekitoa Blues Player Profile". Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  5. ↑ "Blues squad announced for 2013" (Press release). Blues. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  6. ↑ "Highlanders 2014 Squad Announced" (Press release). Highlanders. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Cheshire, Jeff (7 April 2014). "Six stepping up for Highlanders". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  8. ↑ Rattue, Chris (11 April 2014). "Fekitoa shows star potential". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  9. ↑ Eade, Shaun (27 April 2014). "Fekitoa pushes claim for place in All Blacks". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Hansen admits All Blacks interest in Fekitoa" (Press release). All Blacks. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  11. ↑ McKendry, Patrick (22 June 2014). "All Blacks: Fekitoa takes big step up to centre stage". Herald on Sunday. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  12. ↑ Mortimer, James (16 August 2014) Conrad to have baby, Wallabies to get Malakai. allblacks.com. Retrieved on 4 November 2015.
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