Amato Fakatava Explained

Amato Fakatava
アマト ファカタヴァ
Birth Date: July df=y
Birth Place:Nukuʻalofa, Tonga
Height:195 cm[1] [2]
Weight:118 kg
School:
University:Daito Bunka University
Children:Talau Fakatava, Sosefo Fakatava
Ru Position:Lock, Flanker, Number eight
Years1:2019–
Clubs1:Black Rams Tokyo
Apps1:28
Points1:20
Ru Clubupdate:22 April 2023
Repyears1:2023
Repteam1:Japan XV
Repcaps1:2
Reppoints1:0
Repyears2:2023–
Repteam2:Japan
Repcaps2:6
Reppoints2:20
Ru Ntupdate:28 September 2023

is a Japanese rugby union player. Currently playing as number eight in the back row for the Black Rams Tokyo in the Japan Rugby League One, Fakatava also represents Japan at international level.

Early life

Fakatava was born on 7 December 1994 in Tonga.[3] He attended Tonga College[3] before being educated at Timaru Boys' High School in Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand.[1] After moving to Japan at 20-years-old, Fakatava studied at Daito Bunka University.[1] [4]

International career

Fakatava made his international debut for Japan on 22 July 2023 against Samoa in the Pacific Nations Cup. Japan lost 22–24 in Sapporo.[5]

Fakatava was announced in Japan's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad on 29 August.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Amato Fakatava – J Sports . jsports.co.jp . . Japanese . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230714015552/https://www.jsports.co.jp/rugby/japan/team/amato_fakatava/ . 14 July 2023 .
  2. Web site: Amato Fakatava – League One . league-one.jp . Japan Rugby League One .
  3. Web site: アマト ファカタヴァ – Amato Fakatava – Black Rams Tokyo . blackrams-tokyo.com . Black Rams Tokyo . Japanese . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230430094712/https://blackrams-tokyo.com/members/no8/amato_8.html . 30 April 2023 .
  4. Web site: 【日本代表】アマト・ファカタヴァ選手 . nhk.or.jp . . Japanese . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929104441/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/special/rugby_worldcup/japan/profile/3398.html . 29 September 2023 .
  5. News: 22 July 2023 . ラグビー日本代表、サモアに22-24で競り負け強化試合3連敗…リーチマイケルが前半で退場 . Japan's rugby team lost their third consecutive training match, losing 22–24 to Samoa... Michael Leitch left the field in the first half . live . . Japanese . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230723055046/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/rugby/20230722-OYT1T50229/ . 23 July 2023 . ドームの屋内グラウンドでの試合で開始時の気温は22度。日本は開始6分に代表初キャップのA・ファカタバ(BR東京)のトライで先制すると、相手のシンビン(10分間の退場)で数的優位となった時間帯に、SO李承信(神戸)がPGを決めて加点した。前半30分にナンバー8のリーチマイケルが危険なタックルで退場処分(レッドカード)となった日本は終了間際にサモアのトライとキックで追いつかれ、同点で折り返した。 .
  6. News: Japan name squad for Rugby World Cup 2023 - UPDATE . Rugby World Cup . 15 August 2023 . 15 August 2023.