Sam Kaleta Explained

Birth Name:Samuel Puni Kaleta
Birth Date:1966 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Auckland, New Zealand
Ru Position:Flanker
Ru Amateuryears:1990
Ru Amateurclubs:Kia Toa RFC
Ru Clubyears:1992–1994
1994–1997
1997–1999
19??–2004
Ru Proclubs:Ricoh[1]
Ponsonby RFC[2]
Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars
Perthshire RFC
Ru Province:Manawatu
Ru Provinceyears:1990
Ru Provincecaps:8
Ru Provincepoints:(4)
Ru Nationalyears:1992–1993
1994–1997
Ru Nationalteam:
Ru Nationalcaps:4
7
Ru Nationalpoints:(0)
(5)

Samuel Puni Kaleta, known as Sam Kaleta (born 9 March 1966 in Auckland) is a former New-Zealand born Samoan rugby union player who played also for Japan. He played as a flanker.

Career

Kaleta graduated from Lynfield College in Auckland.[3] During his playing career, he played for the New Zealand clubs Kia Toa RFC and Ponsonby RFC,[4] [5] as well as for the Japanese clubs Ricoh Black Rams[6] and Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars. In 1991 he played for the NZ Combined Services team of the New Zealand Defence Force and Police as lock. He finished his career in 2004 for Perthshire RFC.[7]

His first cap for Japan was against Hong Kong, in Seoul, on 26 September 1992, playing four matches. In 1994, Kaleta decided to play for Samoa, his country of heritage; his first cap for the Manu Samoa was in the match against Wales, at Moamoa, on 4 June 1994. He also was part of the 1995 Rugby World Cup roster, although he did not play a match during the tournament. His last cap in his career was against Fiji, in Apia, on 5 July 1997.

In 2006, Kaleta joined the staff of Perthshire RFC and took responsibility for the club's academy.[8] For some time he was the team's player-coach, even entering the field in 2008.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10092/2277/Thesis_fulltext.pdf;sequence=1 The influence of foreign players on the transformation of Japanese rugby
  2. Web site: Samoans recover momentum to stampede Oxford. 22 November 1995. Independent.co.uk. 26 December 2017.
  3. 98.
  4. Web site: 2011-10-22. Samoans recover momentum to stampede Oxford. 2021-04-29. The Independent. en.
  5. Web site: Campbell Burnes: How the Hurricanes have found the magic loose forward formula. 2021-04-29. NZ Herald. en-NZ.
  6. Web site: The influence of foreign players on the transformation of Japanese rugby.
  7. Web site: Today's club rugby action. 2021-04-29. HeraldScotland. en.
  8. Web site: Rugby makes pitch for younger pupils. 2021-04-29. Tes. en.
  9. Web site: Dailyrecord.co.uk. 2008-03-08. Shire fight all the way to bitter end. 2021-04-29. Daily Record. en.