Sosene Raymond Anesi (born 3 June 1981 in Apia, Samoa) is a former rugby union footballer who played as a fullback and wing and currently the head coach of Romania's current champions CS Dinamo București.

Sosene Anesi
Full nameSosene Raymond Anesi
Date of birth (1981-06-03) 3 June 1981 (age 42)
Place of birthApia, Samoa
Height187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight90 kg (198 lb; 14 st 2 lb)
SchoolSt Joseph's College, Samoa.
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fullback
Current team CS Dinamo București
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003–2010 Waikato 91 (165)
2005–2009 Chiefs 41 (60)
2010–2011 Waratahs 21 (15)
2011–2012 NTT Shining Arcs 8 (10)
2013 Parramatta Two Blues 8 (15)
2014–2016 Timișoara Saracens 12 (5)
Correct as of 10 June 2019
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005 New Zealand 1 (0)
2005–2006 Junior All Blacks 6 (0)
2008 Barbarian F.C. 1 (0)
Correct as of 10 June 2019
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
1999–2000 Samoa
2004–2006 New Zealand
Correct as of 10 June 2019
Coaching career
Years Team
2018–2021 Timișoara Saracens
2021– Dinamo București
Correct as of 10 May 2021
Medal record
Men's rugby sevens
Representing  New Zealand
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2006 Melbourne Team competition

Career edit

Anesi came from Samoa to New Zealand in 2000 on a rugby scholarship arranged between St Joseph's College in Apia and St John's College in Hamilton.[1] He made his National Provincial Championship debut for Waikato in 2003.[1] He played for the Chiefs in the Super 14 up until 2007. He made his All Blacks debut from the bench in 2005 against Fiji at Albany,[2] but did not play any further tests. In 2010 and 2011, he played for the Waratahs in the Super Rugby competition, in 2012 played for NTT Communications Shining Arcs Japan's Top League[3] and the NSW Shute Shield competition for the Parramatta Two Blues Rugby club.[4] He now plays for RCM MVT Timișoara, 2012 and 2013 SuperLiga Champion from Romania.

In November 2007 Anesi was charged with assault.[5][6] He was given diversion.[7]

Sevens edit

He was a member of the New Zealand sevens team in 2004 and again in the team that won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.[2]

2007 neck injury edit

Anesi fractured his neck in the second round Super 14 match against the Wellington Hurricanes at Waikato Stadium on 9 February 2007.[8] A strong tackle from Hurricanes winger Ma'a Nonu resulted in the injury which rules Anesi out for season 2007.[9] Immediate surgery was not required, but he needed to go through a rehabilitation period.[9] Anesi returned in the second season of the Air New Zealand Cup.[10]

2013 Superliga Champions edit

Anesi now plays for RCM MVT Timișoara and was a member of the premiership winning team of 2013. Anesi is the first ever All Black and one of the first ever Super Rugby players to play in the SuperLiga. His debut in the Superliga against Farul Constanţa was on 13 July 2013 in Stadionul de Rugby Mihai Naca|Constanța. He was not the only Super Rugby player to debut, with Nathan Eyres-Brown the former Queensland Reds player debuting for Farul Constanţa.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Rattue, Chris (7 October 2004). "Anesi making great strides". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Sosene Anesi". New Zealand Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Sosene Anesi set to make move to Japan". Stuff. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  4. ^ Greg Growden (14 July 2012). "Mystery solved with Anesi's unveiling". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  5. ^ Simon O'Rourke (2 November 2007). "All Black Anesi charged with assault". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  6. ^ Rebecca Harper (3 November 2007). "Waikato rugby player in court after early morning punch-up". Waikato Times. p. A1 – via EBSCOHost.
  7. ^ "Anesi given diversion". Waikato Times. 8 January 2008. p. 3 – via EBSCOHost.
  8. ^ "Chief breaks neck in loss". Sunday Telegraph. 11 February 2007. p. 051 – via EBSCOHost.
  9. ^ a b Evan Pegden (14 February 2007). "Crunching tackle puts Anesi in cotton wool". Waikato Times. p. 1 – via EBSCOHost.
  10. ^ Evan Pegden (11 July 2007). "Early comeback for Anesi". Waikato Times. p. 32 – via EBSCOHost.

External links edit