Isileli J. Tuʻungafasi (born 10 January 1995) is a Tongan born New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays for Northland in the Bunnings NPC.[1] He previously played for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby.[2][3] His position is prop.[4] He is the brother of Ofa Tuʻungafasi, another rugby union player.
Date of birth | 10 January 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | Nukuʻalofa, Tonga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 116 kg (256 lb; 18 st 4 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Māngere College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Mofuike Tuʻungafasi (father) Ofa Tuʻungafasi (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career
editTuʻungafasi started his career playing for Auckland playing 19 games across 3 seasons before he moved north to Northland where he played another 21 games. He was a late addition to the Crusaders squad for round 6 of the 2019 Super Rugby season.[5] In 2020 he was named in the Crusaders squad. He moved Mitre 10 Cup teams again for the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup, this time to Tasman making his debut for the Mako in Round 1 against Counties Manukau. The Mako went on to win the premiership title in 2020 for the second time in a row. Tuʻungafasi played only 2 games for the Crusaders during the 2021 season due to strong performances by fellow props Joe Moody, George Bower and Tamaiti Williams. In October 2021 Tuʻungafasi signed with Moana Pasifika for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season. He played a crucial role in the number 1 jersey for Tasman during the 2021 Bunnings NPC as the Mako made the final before losing 23–20 to Waikato. After being signed by the side in 2021 Tu'ungafasi finally made his debut for Moana Pasifika in Round 2 of the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season against the Chiefs.
Reference list
edit- ^ @RugbyNorthland (16 July 2024). "Here is your 2024 Semco Northland Taniwha squad that will compete in the Bunnings Warehouse NPC" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 August 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Isi Tuungafasi". crusaders.co.nz. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ "Isileli (Isi) Tuʻungafasi". mako.nz. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ "Isileli Tuungafasi". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ "Match Centre - Sanzar Waratahs vs. Crusaders". Sanzar. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.