Tahiti national rugby union team explained

Tahiti
Nickname:Tahiti Nui XV, Aito
Badge:Rugbytahiti.png
Badge Size:100px
Union:Fédération Tahitienne de Rugby
de Polynésie Française
Confederation:Oceania Rugby
Coach:Romi Ropati
Captain:Tunui Anania
Top Scorer:Manuarii Richmond
Top Try Scorer:Manuarii Richmond
Home Stadium:Stade Pater Te Hono Nui
Leftarm1:ff0000
Body1:ff0000
Rightarm1:ff0000
Shorts1:ff0000
Socks1:ff0000
Body2:FFF
Shorts2:ff0000
Socks2:ff0000
World Rugby Rank:96
World Rugby Rank Date:23 November 2020
First Game: Tahiti 0–3
(1 September 1971)
Largest Win: Tahiti 36–12
(26 August 2015)
Largest Loss: Tahiti 9–102
(12 September 1983)
Medaltemplates-Expand:yes

The Tahiti national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union team, representing the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. They first played in 1971 and have played numerous games to date, most against rivals Cook Islands and several against Niue. Other games have been played against Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. France played a match against Tahiti at the end of their 1979 tour and won 92–12.[1] Plans to have annual "test" match series against Pacific island neighbours, New Caledonia have been put on hold, due to time, availability, finances, and coaching and refereeing resources. They have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Tahiti is administered by the Fédération Tahitienne de Rugby de Polynésie Française. Currently, players who have represented or played for the Tahiti national rugby team, are eligible to represent France. However, playing at a professional level can only enable this. At present there are several Tahitian professional rugby players abroad in France's Top 14 and Pro D2 professional competition.

History

Rugby is greatly growing in popularity in Tahiti, but the national sport still remains soccer.

Rugby came to Tahiti via three separate streams, firstly, through the visits of British, New Zealand and Australian sailors; secondly, through the French presence (many of the main teams are still French military); and thirdly through contact with neighbouring Pacific islands, where the game is popular.[2]

Tahiti first played the game in 1971.

It was founded in 1989 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1994.

It is also a full member of Oceania Rugby, which is the governing body for rugby union in Oceania.

Up to 2003, Tahiti played in international rugby sevens (Pacific Games) and XV-a-side, in the qualifying rounds for the Rugby World Cup.[3]

In 2006, there were fourteen clubs in the national championship and two divisions.[3] There were also sevens competitions, women's rugby, and under-18 rugby competitions as well.[3]

In 2017 Tahiti won the Oceania Rugby Cup, beating their rivals Cook Islands at BCI Stadium in Rarotonga, Cook Islands by a score of 13–9.

Uniform and colors

Tahiti's kit are typically All red with white tribal, designs, etc. They also can be seen using a white jersey with red tribal, designs, etc. In the past they have used all white kits with red as their secondary color, and also Red jersey with the Tahitian flag colors and black shorts.

Kit providers

Year Kit Manufacturer Main Shirt Sponsor
1971–1979 style=text-align:left
1979–1980 style=text-align:left
1980–1982 style=text-align:left
1982–1983 style=text-align:left
1982–1983 style=text-align:left
1983–1997 style=text-align:left
1997–2001 style=text-align:left
2001–2003 style=text-align:left
2003–2005 style=text-align:left
2005–2006 style=text-align:left
2006–2013 style=text-align:left
2013–2015 style=text-align:left
2015–present style=text-align:leftAir Tahiti Nui

Home grounds

Tahiti have played most of their home matches at Stade Pater Te Hono Nui and Stade Fautaua.

Tahiti has also hosted matches for numerous Pacific Games and Oceania Cup. They share these venues with the Tahiti national football team and club sides from both rugby and football.

Annually Tahiti hosts the Papeete International Sevens Tournament.

Record

Oceania Cup

Tahiti competes in the Oceania Cup which is played against seven other Pacific nations: American Samoa, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Tahiti has competed in the very first Oceania Cup when it was created in 1997. Since 2015, Tahiti has played 4 matches against: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, American Samoa and Cook Islands recording a record of 3 wins and 1 loss. Their only loss was to 2015 Oceania Cup Champions Papua New Guinea, and until this date, it has been their only loss since then. They placed second in the standings table and were Runner-up in the tournament. In 2017 they won the Oceania Cup beating their rival Cook Islands in the 2017 Oceania Cup Championship by a score of 9–13 in Avarua, Cook Islands.

Oceania tournaments

width=50 Yearwidth=150Winnerwidth=80 Scorewidth=150Runner-upwidth=100Match venueRefs
1996round-robinRarotonga[4]
200229–14
16–21
Port Moresby
Rarotonga
[5]
2003round-robinAuckland
Rarotonga
[6]
200450–5Rarotonga[7] [8]
200537–12
11–20
Rarotonga
Port Moresby
[9]
The final of the 2006 FORU Cup between Vanuatu and Niue was cancelled. [10]
Oceania Cup
width=50 Yearwidth=150Winnerwidth=80 Scorewidth=150Runner-upwidth=100Match venueRefs
200746–27Paliati, Alofi[11]
200827–5Nouméa[12]
200929–21Port Moresby[13]
2011round-robinPort Moresby[14]
2013round-robinPort Moresby[15]
2015round-robinPort Moresby[16]
201713–9Rarotonga[17]
2019round-robinPort Moresby[18]
Notes:

Part of the Rugby World Cup qualification process.

The final of the 2007 tournament was not held until April 2008. Starting from 2009, the tournament has been held biennially.

Rugby World Cup

World Cup record
YearRound
1987Not invited
1991did not qualify
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011did not participate
2015did not qualify
2019Disqualified
2023Suspended
Total0/9

Overall

are currently ranked 84th on the World Rugby Rankings table.[19]

AgainstPlayedWonLostDrawn
1 1 0 0
9 2 7 0
1 0 1 0
2 0 2 0
1 0 1 0
1 1 0 0
4 1 3 0
3 0 3 0
1 0 1 0
4 1 3 0
1 0 1 0
2 1 1 0
Total 29 7 22 0

Players

Tahiti Nui XV "Aito"

Head coach: Romi Ropati

PlayerPositionDate of birth (age)Club
David LahilleHooker20 March 1990 L'Isle-Jourdain
Martin TaeaeProp24 July 1991 Valence-d'Agen
Patrick TeveroProp2 December 1993 La Roche-sur-Yon
Angus ChalesProp28 November 1993 Pirae
Brandon TihataProp29 April 1996 Le Mans
Loic TautuForward13 September 1983 Arue
Jean TautuForward19 June 2000
Torea MorouLock9 August 1991 Chartres
Lehi TematafaarereLock29 July 1989 Chartres
Andrew VanaaBack Row23 December 1989 Isle
Haley TeuiraFlanker16 April 1986 Pirae
Tunui Anania (c)Flanker7 April 1989 Valence-d'Agen
Manuarii RichmondNumber 814 April 1988 Faa'a
Guillaume BrouquiScrum-half21 July 1985 Trélissac
Raihau TaureiScrum-half28 November 1994 Pirae
Andoni JimenezFly-half3 August 1989 Nantes
Anthony TesquetFly-half17 February 1986 La Teste-de-Buch
Ganaham HuutiBack3 October 1997
Teariki Wong SungBack24 February 1993 Le Mans
Tamahao OpetaCentre29 October 1997
Mathieu TaulelleCentre23 January 1992 La Hulpe
Taitearii MahuruCentre21 December 1989 Pirae
Vincent PerezWing17 April 1989 Tournon-d'Agenais
James TekurioWing5 May 1984 Muret
Makalea FoliakiWing24 September 1996 Cognac Saint-Jean-d'Angély
Jean-Teiva JacquelainWing22 April 1994 Mont-de-Marsan
François TardieuFullback1 February 1995 Valence-d'Agen
Cedric MartinFullback29 June 1989 FCTT

Notable players

Player Notability
Jean-Teiva Jacquelain Played for Toulon(Academy) and La Rochelle in Top 14 and Grenoble(Pro D2), currently playing with Mont-de-Marsan in Pro D2 and France 7s
Timi Frogier
Richard Mapuhi Played for French Club Pau in Pro D2 (49 caps, 1990–1994)
Tauirai Bessert
Apolosi Foliaki
Makalea Foliaki Played for Toulon(Academy) in Top 14, now playing with Cognac Saint-Jean-d'Angély in Nationale, he is the son of former player Apolosi Foliaki.
Tihoti Tamarono
François Tardieu Played for Agen(Top 14), Colomiers(Pro D2, Now plays with Valence d’agen(Fédérale 1)
Vakatini Atuahiva (JJ) Played for Counties Manukau Steeelers NZ 1982, 1991–1995: Manawatu 1984–1990 NZ:, NZ All Black Colts 1982 & 1984:NZ Divisional XV 1993: NZ Maori All Black 1994: Cook Island 7s and XV

Guest players

These players were capped for Tahiti in an invitational match against to celebrate Bastille Day in Papeete on 14 July 1981:

See also

Notes and References

    • Book: . Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1980–81. 1980 . Queen Anne Press . 0-362-02018-3. 38 .
  1. Book: The Complete Book of Rugby . Seven Oaks Ltd . Richard Bath . 1997 . 75 . 1-86200-013-1.
  2. Archives du Rugby: Mayotte retrieved 8 September 2009
  3. Web site: 1 September 1996. 1999 Rugby World Cup Qualifier Results. ESPNscrum.
  4. Web site: 1 September 1996. 2003 Rugby World Cup Qualifier Results. ESPNscrum.
  5. Web site: 6 September 2003. Oceania Cup. ESPNscrum.
  6. Web site: 28 August 2004. Oceania Cup. ESPNscrum.
  7. It is unclear whether this competition included any other game apart from the one between Niue and Cook Islands
  8. The competition also served as rounds 1 and 2 of Oceania qualification for 2007 Rugby World Cup.
  9. Web site: FORU Cup 2006 / Results. ESPNscrum. 23 February 2015.
  10. http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/match/95829.html "Niue Island v Papua New Guinea at Paliati"
  11. Web site: 1 September 2008 . Niue take Oceania Cup rugby union final . ABC Radio Australia . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080916221921/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200809/s2352343.htm?tab=sport . 16 September 2008.
  12. http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/qualifying/news/newsid=2032646.html#usa+png+crucial+qualifiers Crucial qualifiers
  13. http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=2060797.html#png+claim+oceania+cup+2011 PNG claim Oceania Cup
  14. Web site: Cook Islands defeat PNG to claim Oceania Cup and keep Rugby World Cup dream alive. Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions. 2013-07-14. 2013-07-15.
  15. Web site: 31 August 2015. Post Match Review ORC 2015 Final. Oceania Rugby. 31 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150831120818/http://www.oceaniarugby.com/pageitem.aspx?id=101415&id2=1&eID=66726&entityID=66726. 31 August 2015.
  16. Web site: 6 August 2017. Tahiti take home Oceania Rugby Cup. Oceania Rugby. 6 August 2017.
  17. Web site: 2 September 2019. Pupuks win 2019 Oceania Cup. Post-Courrier. 10 September 2019.
  18. Web site: World Rugby Rankings . World Rugby.org . 20 April 2015 . 22 April 2015.
  19. Web site: Enrique TOPO Rodríguez talks rugby . Irene Watt . 2 April 2012 . 22 April 2015.