Sione Mafileo Explained

Sione Mafileo
Fullname:Sione Tulimaiau Mafileo
Birth Date:14 April 1993
Birth Place:Auckland, New Zealand
Height:1780NaN0
Weight:1280NaN0
School:Wesley College
St Kentigern College
Position:Prop
Currentclub:North Harbour,
Years1:2014–
Clubs1:North Harbour
Apps1:75
Points1:15
Years2:2015–2020
Clubs2:Blues
Apps2:53
Points2:0
Years3:2021-2023
Apps3:13
Points3:0
Years4:2024-
Apps4:2
Points4:5
Repyears1:2013
Repteam1:New Zealand U20
Repcaps1:5
Reppoints1:0
Repyears2:2020
Repteam2:Moana Pasifika
Repcaps2:1
Reppoints2:0
Clubupdate:5 March 2024
Repupdate:12 March 2024

Sione Tulimaiau Mafileo (born 14 April 1993) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who currently plays as a prop for in the ITM Cup and the in the international Super Rugby competition.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Early career

Mafileo attended Wesley college and excelled in Rugby playing the role of a bust-out prop with excellent speed & acceleration. He later attended Saint Kentigern College in Auckland and won the Auckland schools competition with them in 2012.[3]

Senior career

Despite being named in North Harbour's squad for the 2013 ITM Cup, serious illness prevented him from making any appearances that year.[3] He managed to make it onto the field the following season, but was merely a bit part player, playing 3 times. 2015 was when he really started to establish himself as Harbour's first choice in the number 3 jersey, he played 9 times that season, all of his appearances coming from the start. He continued to be a regular in North Harbour's Championship winning season in 2016, playing in all 12 of their games during the campaign and scoring his first ever provincial try as Harbour upset the more fancied and to win promotion to the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership for 2017.[2]

Super Rugby

Despite only having 3 provincial appearances under his belt at the time, Mafileo was called up by the to provide front-row injury cover in the latter part of the 2015 Super Rugby season. He debuted in a New Zealand derby match against the and made one other appearance from the replacements bench before the campaign was out.[5] The Blues, under new head-coach Tana Umaga retained his services for 2016 and he went on to play 6 times during the year, including his first 2 starts for the franchise.[2] He was again named in the Blues squad for the 2017 season.[3]

International

Mafileo was a New Zealand Schoolboys representative in 2011 and was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 which competed in the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship in France where he made 5 appearances.[6] [7]

Career Honours

North Harbour

Super Rugby Statistics

[2]

Season Team Games Starts Sub Mins Tries Cons Pens Drops Points Yel Red
2 0 2 71 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 2 4 159 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 8 2 6 230 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sione Mafileo North Harbour Player Profile . Harbour Rugby . 1 October 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200117004955/http://www.harbourrugby.co.nz/profile/player/154/. 17 January 2020.
  2. Web site: Sione Mafileo itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics . itsrugby.co.uk . 1 October 2015.
  3. Web site: Sione Mafileo Blues Player Profile . Blues Rugby . 26 November 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219184231/http://theblues.co.nz/players/sione-mafileo/. 19 February 2018.
  4. Web site: Blues 2017 Squad Guide . All Blacks.com . 26 November 2016.
  5. Web site: Blues coach Sir John Kirwan names young side to take on Crusaders in Auckland . Rugby Heaven . 4 June 2016.
  6. Web site: NZU20 squad named for IRB World Champs in France . All Blacks.com . 25 April 2013 . 1 October 2015.
  7. Web site: Sione Mafileo New Zealand U20 Player Profile . All Blacks.com . 26 November 2016.