Timothy Lafaele (Japanese: ティモシー・ラファエレ, born 19 August 1991) is an American Samoan-born, Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a fly-half or centre.[1] He currently plays for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and the Kobelco Steelers in Japan's domestic Top League.[2][3] He received Japanese citizenship in 2017.[4]

Timothy Lafaele
Date of birth (1991-08-19) 19 August 1991 (age 33)
Place of birthPago Pago, American Samoa
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight98 kg (15 st 6 lb; 216 lb)
SchoolDe La Salle College, New Zealand
UniversityYamanashi Gakuin University, Japan
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half / Centre
Current team Kobelco Steelers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2018 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 46 (119)
2017–2019 Sunwolves 21 (32)
2020– Kobelco Steelers 7 (20)
Correct as of 21 February 2021
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–present Japan 23 (32)
Correct as of 21 February 2021

Club career

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Lafaele has played all of his senior rugby in Japan with the Coca-Cola Red Sparks, who he joined in 2014.[5]

International

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Lafaele received his first call-up for his adopted country Japan's senior squad ahead of the 2016 end-of-year rugby union internationals. He debuted as a second-half replacement in new head coach, Jamie Joseph's first game, a 54-20 loss at home to Argentina.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Timothy Lafaele ESPN Scrum Player Profile". ESPN. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  2. ^ "Timothy Lafaele Top League Player Profile" (in Japanese). Top League. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Timothy Lafaele Coca-Cola Red Sparks Player Profile" (in Japanese). CC West. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Another high school rugby star headed for Japan". Otago Daily Times. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Timothy Lafaele itsrugby Player Statistics". itsrugby. Retrieved 7 November 2016.