Saimone Taumoepeau Explained

Saimone Taumoepeau
Birth Date:1979 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Ha'apai, Tonga
Height:1.860NaN0
Weight:111kg (245lb)
Ru Position:Prop Hooker
Ru Amateurclubs:Auckland Marist
Ru Amupdate:1 Sept 2006
Ru Nationalyears:2004-2005
Ru Nationalcaps:3
Ru Nationalpoints:(5)
Ru Ntupdate:1 Sept 2006
Ru Clubyears:2007-2011
2011-2016
2016
2016-
Ru Proclubs:RC Toulonnais
Castres Olympique
CA Brive
AS Lavaur
Ru Clubcaps:101
96
2
47
Ru Clubpoints:(40)
(35)
(0)
(10)
Ru Clubupdate:2 November 2018
Super14: Blues
Super14years:2005-2007
Super14caps:23
Super14points:(5)
Super14update:9 September 2006
Ru Province:Auckland
Ru Provinceyears:2004-2007
Ru Provincecaps:32
Ru Provincepoints:(20)
Ru Provinceupdate:9 September 2006
Spouse:Ilisapeti Taumoepeau
Children:Bénir And Donatienne Taumoepeau
Relatives:Tevita Taumoepeau (brother)
School:Tupou College Tonga

Saimone Taumoepeau (born 21 December 1979 in Ha'apai, Tonga) is a professional rugby union player in France. He is the younger brother of Tevita Taumoepeau.

Career

Born in Tonga, Taumoepeau emigrated to New Zealand in 1997.[1] Taumoepeau was a shock selection in the 2004 end-of-year All Blacks squad after having only made his debut that season in provincial rugby's Air New Zealand Cup and having yet to play Super Rugby.[2] He first made his name as a loosehead prop, but made his debut as a hooker for the Junior All Blacks. He played his rugby for Auckland at provincial level and the Blues at Super 14 level before moving to French club Toulon.[3]

While considered to be on the smaller side of the scale compared to most international props in terms of physical size, Taumoepeau has made a reputation for being a devastating scrummager via technique and brute strength. He also proved to be a reliable hooker for both Auckland, the Blues and at Junior All Blacks level.

Taumoepeau signed with Toulon in 2007,[4] having joined them after that year's New Zealand season and won the French Pro D2 Championship 2007–2008. He played for Castres Olympique between 2011 and 2016, and won the French top 14 Championship in 2012–13.

Honours

Club

Castres

2012–13[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Silent partner is a scrumming dynamo . Chris Rattue . New Zealand Herald . 26 October 2004 . 26 October 2021.
  2. Web site: Saimone Taumoepeau . Blues . 26 October 2021.
  3. News: The Quiet Man . Michel Estienne . NZ Rugby World . 164 . 62–65 . 1 January 2014 . EBSCOHost.
  4. Web site: Lavaur. Saimone Taumoepeau, un homme humble qui force le respect . LaDepeche.fr . 17 June 2018 . 26 October 2021 . fr.
  5. News: KOCKOTT TAKES CASTRES TO THE TOP. rugby365.com. 1 June 2013 . 13 March 2021.