Brian Alainu'uese (born 19 March 1994) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Top 14 club Toulon. Born in New Zealand, he represents Samoa at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.[1]

Brian Alainu'uese
Alainu'uese representing Toulon during the EPCR Challenge Cup
Date of birth (1994-03-19) 19 March 1994 (age 30)
Place of birthInvercargill, New Zealand
Height2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)
Weight135 kg (298 lb; 21 st 4 lb)
SchoolWesley College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Toulon
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2016 Waikato 17 (15)
2015 Chiefs 2 (0)
2016–2018 Glasgow Warriors 22 (0)
2018– Toulon 113 (28)
Correct as of 28 August 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 Samoa U20 5 (5)
2022– Samoa 5 (0)
Correct as of 28 August 2023

Club career

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Alainu'uese has been drafted to Glasgow Hawks in the Scottish Premiership for the 2017-18 season.[2]

Alainu'uese first appeared for Waikato against Horowhenua-Kapiti in July 2013 after which he went on to make 6 appearances in that year's ITM Cup. Injury ruled him out of the following 2 seasons, however in 2016, injury-free he returned to the Waikato senior squad.[1][3]

Alainu'uese was a member of the Chiefs Under-18 programme and later moved into the franchise's development squad for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He got his big chance during the 2015 Super Rugby season when he was called up as a short-term injury replacement by the Chiefs and went on to make 2 appearances.[3][4]

On 24 October 2016 it was announced that he had signed for professional provincial team Glasgow Warriors in a deal to the end of the season.[5] He made his competitive debut for Glasgow on 28 October 2016 against Benetton Treviso at Scotstoun Stadium. Langilangi Haupeakui also made his Warriors debut in the same match - Alain'uese replaced Tim Swinson on 51 minutes; and Haupeakui replaced Simone Favaro on 55 minutes. This gives Alainueuse a Glasgow Warrior No. 272 and Haupeakui a Glasgow Warrior No. 273.[6]

On 23 October 2018 Alainu'uese joined Toulon after being released from his Glasgow Warriors contract by mutual consent [7]

International career

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Alainu'uese was considered too young to be selected for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship by New Zealand and instead was called up by Samoa for whom he made 5 appearances and scored 1 try. The move does not prevent him from appearing for the All Blacks senior team in the future.[3][8]

He was named in Samoa's squad for their Northern Hemisphere tour in 2022.[9] He received 2 senior caps in that tour.[10]

Career statistics

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Club summary

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As of 14 August 2016[3]
Season Team Games Starts Sub Mins Tries Cons Pens Drops Points Yel Red
2015 Chiefs 2 0 2 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 2 0 2 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

References

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  1. ^ a b "Brian Alainu'uese Waikato Player Profile". Mooloo Rugby. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Pro-player draft".
  3. ^ a b c d "Brian Alainu'uese itsrugby Player Statistics". itsrugby. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Chiefs team announced to play Bulls in Rotorua". Chiefs Rugby. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  5. ^ "News".
  6. ^ "Glasgow Warriors-vs-Benetton Treviso - United Rugby Championship".
  7. ^ "Glasgow allow Alainu'uese to join Toulon". BBC Sport.
  8. ^ "Big teenager thriving in locking role". Waikato Times. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Manu Samoa on Twitter". 5 October 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Brian ALAINU'UESE - Player statistics - international stats - It's rugby".
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