Lio Falaniko Explained

Birth Date:17 September 1970
Birth Place:Apia, Samoa
Weight:264lbs
Ru Position:Lock
Amatyears1:1994-1998
Amatyears2:1999
Amatteam1:Alhambra Union
Amatteam2:Marist
Super1:Otago Highlanders
Super2:Wellington Hurricanes
Superapps1:24
Superapps2:5
Superpoints1:25
Superpoints2:0
Superyears1:1996–98
Superyears2:1999
Province1:Wellington U21
Province2:Otago
Province3:Southland
Province4:North Harbour
Provinceyears1:1990
Provinceyears2:1994-1998
Provinceyears3:1998
Provinceyears4:1999
Provinceapps2:36
Provinceapps3:6
Provinceapps4:6
Provincepoints2:20
Provincepoints3:0
Provincepoints4:0
Years1:1999
Years2:2000-2005
Clubs1:Bègles-Bordeaux
Clubs2:Kintetsu Liners
Repyears1:1990-1999
Repcaps1:21
Reppoints1:10

Filiga Lio Falaniko (born Apia, 17 September 1970) is a Samoan former rugby union player and boxer. He plays as a lock.Currently, he works as personal trainer.[1]

Career

His international debut in 1991, against Tonga, at Apia, on 17 June 1990. Despite missing that year's World Cup through injury he was a regular for the Samoans throughout the 1990s, playing in both the 1995 and 1999 World Cups - scoring a memorable try against Wales in Samoa's 38-31 win at the then all-new Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Ranging lock Falaniko joined the Hurricanes for one season in 1999 from the Highlanders, where he had played 24 super 12 games between 1996-1998. Falaniko was used alongside Dion Waller, Mark Cooksley and Inoke Afeaki in the locking role for the Hurricanes, winning five caps, and making four starts against the Cats, Sharks, Blues, and finally his old team the Highlanders.

Vastly experienced at provincial level, Falaniko played a number of times for Otago, spent a season with Southland prior to his Super 12 stint in Wellington and also for North Harbour in 1999. Additionally Falaniko was an international volleyball representative and spent several years as a Les Mills Gyms fitness trainer. He took his personal trainer expertise to Perth, where he now resides and also coaches at club level.[2]

Boxing career

Between 2005 and 2011, Falaniko undertook a boxing career, going undefeated in 10 heavyweight professional boxing bouts in New Zealand.[3]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lio Falaniko.
  2. Web site: Lio Falaniko: Former Samoan rugby star and boxer foils optimistic burglar’s break-in then lets him go . PerthNow . 11 January 2022 . 15 October 2023.
  3. Web site: Three-time RWC Samoan lock to coach Nedlands Colts - Western Force. 2017-01-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20160312093806/https://www.rugbywa.com.au/article/three-time-rwc-samoan-lock-coach-nedlands-colts. 2016-03-12. dead.