Tafito Lafaele (born 17 February 2001) is a New Zealand rugby union player. She made her Black Ferns test debut in 2022. She plays for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Auckland provincially.
| Date of birth | 17 February 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 87 kg (192 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Botany Downs Secondary College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Background edit
Lafaele attended Botany Downs Secondary College where she participated in athletics, volleyball, basketball, netball and sevens.[1][2]
Rugby career edit
2019–21 edit
Lafaele debuted for the Auckland Storm in the 2019 Farah Palmer Cup.[1][2] In 2021 she played for the Moana Pasifika Sevens team against the Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens.[1][3]
On 3 November 2021, Lafaele was named in the Blues squad for the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki competition.[4][5] She was named in the Blues starting line up for their first game against Matatū, they won 21–10.[6][7] She also started in their 0–35 thrashing by the Chiefs Manawa in the final round.[8][9]
2022 edit
Lafaele was named in the Black Ferns squad for the 2022 Pacific Four Series.[10][11] She made her international debut on 6 June against Australia at Tauranga at the Pacific Four Series.[12][13] She was recalled into the team for the August test series against the Wallaroos for the Laurie O'Reilly Cup.[14][15]
References edit
- ^ a b c McConnell, Lynn (24 May 2022). "Rapid rise for new Black Ferns flanker Tafito Lafaele". allblacks.com. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Black Ferns cap for Lafaele". Times. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ Von Dincklage, Vaelei. "First-ever Moana Pasifika 7s women rugby team did great". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "nib Blues Super Rugby Aupiki 2022 Squad". Blues Rugby. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Exciting nib Blues Super Rugby Aupiki Squad Announced". Blues Rugby. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
- ^ "Long wait over as nib Blues set for Sky Super Rugby Aupiki debut". superrugby.co.nz. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ Burnes, Campbell (15 March 2022). "Blues full of merit in downing Matatū". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Experienced pair return for key clash for nib Blues". superrugby.co.nz. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ Burnes, Campbell (20 March 2022). "Chiefs Manawa crowned Sky Super Rugby Aupiki champs". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "31-strong Black Ferns squad named for home June Test series". allblacks.com. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ "Seven debutants, new captain: Black Ferns name first squad of the year". NZ Herald. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ Burnes, Campbell (5 June 2022). "PREVIEW: Black Ferns v Wallaroos (Tauranga)". allblacks.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ "Black Ferns named for first Test of Pacific Four Series". allblacks.com. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Black Ferns named for O'Reilly Cup Test series". allblacks.com. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ Brown, Roger (15 August 2022). "2022 Laurie O'Reilly Cup Black Ferns Vs Wallaroos " When Does It Start, Live Streams And Schedule"". thedailyrugby.com. Retrieved 16 August 2022.