David Vaealiki
Encyclopedia
David Ioane Vaealiki is a rugby union
player currently playing for SC Albi
. He has represented New Zealand
in rugby league
and previously played in the National Rugby League
in Australia and in Super League
in England. His main playing position is at centre.
junior side Sydenham, David Vaealiki attended Linwood High School
and became Canterbury's
youngest ever representative when he made his debut for the province aged just 17 years and 199 days in a match against the West Coast. He then signed for the Parramatta Eels
and made his first grade debut in 1999. He went on to play 93 games for the club, including the 2001 NRL
Grand Final, scoring a total of 32 tries.He also scored the fastest hat-trick in the NRL versus Penrith March 17, 2002. In 2004, David's season was cut short by an Achilles tendon
injury,he played only eight games.
and his first appearance for Wigan on 30 January 2005 in a pre season friendly against London Broncos after starting the match from the bench. He made his first start for Wigan in their 15-4 win over Salford City Reds
in the Super League
his last game was the semi finals versus Leeds Rhinos
in October 2007.
contract expired at the end of 2007
and it was not known if he was offered a new contract. In September 2007 he was linked with a move to French
Rugby Union
side Sporting Club Albigeois
.
Instead Vaealiki joined the Manly Sea Eagles on a one year deal and played two games for the club in early 2008.
.
in 1998 and played for New Zealand
between 2000 and 2003, including the World Cup
in 2000.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player currently playing for SC Albi
SC Albi
Sporting Club Albigeois is a professional French rugby union club playing the second-level Rugby Pro D2. During the past years it went back and forth between Top 14, the highest level of the French league system and the second-level Rugby Pro D2. Their last time in the Top 14 was for 2009–10 after...
. He has represented New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and previously played in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
in Australia and in Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
in England. His main playing position is at centre.
Early years and Parramatta
A product of New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
junior side Sydenham, David Vaealiki attended Linwood High School
Linwood High School
Linwood High School is a non-denominational comprehensive state secondary school in Linwood, Renfrewshire.The original school building was constructed in 1965 and demolished in 2006 for a new school to be constructed on the same site....
and became Canterbury's
Canterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand...
youngest ever representative when he made his debut for the province aged just 17 years and 199 days in a match against the West Coast. He then signed for the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
and made his first grade debut in 1999. He went on to play 93 games for the club, including the 2001 NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
Grand Final, scoring a total of 32 tries.He also scored the fastest hat-trick in the NRL versus Penrith March 17, 2002. In 2004, David's season was cut short by an Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
injury,he played only eight games.
Wigan Warriors career
He signed a 3-year contract with Wigan in July 2004. He joined the club for the 2005 Super LeagueSuper League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
and his first appearance for Wigan on 30 January 2005 in a pre season friendly against London Broncos after starting the match from the bench. He made his first start for Wigan in their 15-4 win over Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
in the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
his last game was the semi finals versus Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
in October 2007.
Manly
David Vaealiki was expected to join Harlequins RL when his WiganWigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
contract expired at the end of 2007
Super League XII
Engage Super League XII is the official name for the year 2007's Super League season in the sport of rugby league.The 2007 season kicked off on the weekend of 2 February 2007 at the Galpharm Stadium. For the first time, the league had a staggered start due to the World Club Challenge between St...
and it was not known if he was offered a new contract. In September 2007 he was linked with a move to French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
side Sporting Club Albigeois
SC Albi
Sporting Club Albigeois is a professional French rugby union club playing the second-level Rugby Pro D2. During the past years it went back and forth between Top 14, the highest level of the French league system and the second-level Rugby Pro D2. Their last time in the Top 14 was for 2009–10 after...
.
Instead Vaealiki joined the Manly Sea Eagles on a one year deal and played two games for the club in early 2008.
French rugby union
Vaealiki was released by Manly after round 7 of the NRL to enable him to take up the offer of a two-year contract with Top 14 French rugby union club, SC AlbiSC Albi
Sporting Club Albigeois is a professional French rugby union club playing the second-level Rugby Pro D2. During the past years it went back and forth between Top 14, the highest level of the French league system and the second-level Rugby Pro D2. Their last time in the Top 14 was for 2009–10 after...
.
International career
Vaealiki earned international selection for the Junior KiwisJunior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
in 1998 and played for New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
between 2000 and 2003, including the World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
in 2000.
External links
- David Vaealiki Wigan Career Page on the Wigan RL Fansite.
- Wigan Warriors Profile
- Super League Profile