Eliota Fuimaono
Encyclopedia
Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu is a Samoan
rugby union
footballer. He is a centre who can also play at fly half. He currently plays for Gloucester Rugby, in the Aviva Premiership.
Fuimaono-Sapolu first played club rugby as a junior for Manurewa
RFC in South Auckland
, New Zealand
. His coach
Gary Healey commented "Eli didn't need much coaching. He was a naturally gifted player who could read the game. His commitment, discipline and sheer exuberance showed at an early age, and he was clearly destined for higher honours".
Fuimaono-Sapolu moved to England in January 2006, signed by Bath Rugby after outstanding performances in the internationals against Scotland
(his international debut) and England
. He had initially been signed as a temporary replacement to cover for the players playing in the Six Nations Championship
, but soon his contract was made permanent. Since arriving at Bath he has won the approval of many fans due to his exciting running and quick hands.
More recently he displayed his all round ability in back play at the 2007 Rugby World Cup
, in which he represented Samoa playing out of position at fly-half. Although his side lost to England
, South Africa
and – surprisingly – Tonga
while beating only the U.S.A.
in the pool stages of the tournament, Fuimaono-Sapolu was one of the consistent performers.
In the summer of 2009 Fuimaono-Sapolu left Bath to join Gloucester rugby on a one-year contract that was later extended for two further seasons.
In 2011 he was shortlisted
by the Rugby Players' Association for their Players' Player of the Year award alongside Chris Ashton
, Chris Budgen
, Nick Evans, Thomas Waldrom
and Tom Wood
.
During the 2011 Rugby World Cup
Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu made a Twitter
post linking the scheduling of the world cup to slavery, the holocaust and apartheid, after Samoa had 3 days to prepare for their match against Wales
, while Wales had a week to prepare. Officials that met with the Samoa team management accepted an official apology and decided that no further action was necessary. Later in the tournament when Samoa lost to South Africa Fuimaono Sapolu tweeted that referee Nigel Owens
was "racist" and "biased", which resulted in him being suspended from rugby for six months.. However, this punishment is suspended for two years.
Samoans
The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa ; and American Samoa, an...
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...
footballer. He is a centre who can also play at fly half. He currently plays for Gloucester Rugby, in the Aviva Premiership.
Fuimaono-Sapolu first played club rugby as a junior for Manurewa
Manurewa
Manurewa is the southernmost major suburb of Manukau City, one of the four cities that make up the metropolitan area of Auckland in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 6km south of the Manukau City Centre, and 26km southeast of the Auckland CBD....
RFC in South Auckland
South Auckland
South Auckland is an imprecisely defined area of Auckland, New Zealand, often stereotyped as a socio-economically disadvantaged, and sometimes rough, urban area with a relatively large Polynesian and Māori population. The name South Auckland is not an official place name but is in common use by New...
, 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...
. His coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
Gary Healey commented "Eli didn't need much coaching. He was a naturally gifted player who could read the game. His commitment, discipline and sheer exuberance showed at an early age, and he was clearly destined for higher honours".
Fuimaono-Sapolu moved to England in January 2006, signed by Bath Rugby after outstanding performances in the internationals against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
(his international debut) and England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
. He had initially been signed as a temporary replacement to cover for the players playing in the Six Nations Championship
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
, but soon his contract was made permanent. Since arriving at Bath he has won the approval of many fans due to his exciting running and quick hands.
More recently he displayed his all round ability in back play at the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
, in which he represented Samoa playing out of position at fly-half. Although his side lost to England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
, South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
and – surprisingly – Tonga
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
while beating only the U.S.A.
United States national rugby union team
USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
in the pool stages of the tournament, Fuimaono-Sapolu was one of the consistent performers.
In the summer of 2009 Fuimaono-Sapolu left Bath to join Gloucester rugby on a one-year contract that was later extended for two further seasons.
In 2011 he was shortlisted
Short list
A short list or shortlist is a list of candidates for a job, prize, award, political position, etc., that has been reduced from a longer list of candidates . The length of short lists varies according to the context.-U.S...
by the Rugby Players' Association for their Players' Player of the Year award alongside Chris Ashton
Chris Ashton
Chris Ashton is an English rugby union player who has represented England in both Rugby League and Rugby Union...
, Chris Budgen
Chris Budgen
Lieutenant Corporal Chris Budgen is a Rugby Union player for Exeter Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership. He made his debut for Exeter on 30 September 2008 against Esher...
, Nick Evans, Thomas Waldrom
Thomas Waldrom
Thomas Waldrom is a New Zealand born rugby Number 8 who represents England.His nickname is Thomas the Tank Engine because of his first name and his tank like stature.-Provinces:...
and Tom Wood
Tom Wood (rugby union)
Tom Wood is an English rugby union player for Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership.He plays as flanker but can also play at number eight....
.
During the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu made a Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
post linking the scheduling of the world cup to slavery, the holocaust and apartheid, after Samoa had 3 days to prepare for their match against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
, while Wales had a week to prepare. Officials that met with the Samoa team management accepted an official apology and decided that no further action was necessary. Later in the tournament when Samoa lost to South Africa Fuimaono Sapolu tweeted that referee Nigel Owens
Nigel Owens
Nigel Owens is a Welsh international rugby union referee. He is an international and Heineken Cup referee and was the only Welsh referee at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France....
was "racist" and "biased", which resulted in him being suspended from rugby for six months.. However, this punishment is suspended for two years.