Soane Tonga'uiha
Encyclopedia
Soane Tonga'uiha is a Tonga
n-born, New Zealand-educated, rugby union
player. He plays for Northampton Saints
and internationally for Tonga
. His position of choice is at loose-head prop and sometimes tight-head prop. He is known for his large size and fierce runs.
the same Catholic school attended by Pat Lam
who also taught there. In his final year at school in 2000 the team went through the season undefeated, winning the Auckland Championship
and the New Zealand First XV Knock out competition. The team was inspired by Pat Lam
.
Tonga’uiha was selected for the Auckland team in 2002 and 2003 playing 12 games and scoring one try.
as he shone in the 2005/06 season, helping Bedford to a second-place finish behind rugby giants Harlequins
, and a Powergen Trophy final place. This combined with his mobile aggressive ball-carrying caused Northampton Saints
to consider using him. He had also scored a try against Saints in Northampton's victory over Bedford Blues
in the Powergen Cup game in December 2004.
and British and Irish Lions
legend Tom Smith
- did not have too many starts in the Guinness Premiership
. However, in the 2007/08 season, when Saints found themselves in National League 1, he excelled and earned a number of first team appearances as Northampton Saints
cruised towards promotion at the end of the season.
This upward trend in performances continued into the 2008/09 season when – combined with Tom Smith's move towards coaching – Tonga'uiha cemented his place in the match-day squad and has had his fair share of appearances in the starting XV.
Tonga'uiha has become something of a crowd favourite at Franklin's Gardens with the nickname 'Tiny' – an ironic take on his size.
at the start of the 2010/11 season. However, in April 2010, he changed his mind and signed a new three-year contract with the Saints.
In 2003 he was selected for the New Zealand under 21 team and again won the applicable age grade World Cup.
, a composite team made up of the best players from Samoa, Fiji and Tonga.
His career stalled after that as being a professional playing in Europe restricted him from summer tests for his native Tonga. His sights had been firmly set on the 2007 Rugby World Cup to be held in France – ensuring his and other seasoned professionals playing Europe's participation.
In 2007, he travelled to France as part of the Tongan national rugby team to take part in the 2007 Rugby World Cup
, playing in all four games as Tonga upset the form book, beating the USA and archrivals Samoa and pushing eventual winners South Africa and runners-up England all the way. By the end of the tournament, Tonga'uiha had 7 caps for Tonga.
Tonga'uiha was again part of his country's World Cup squad for the 2011 event
, starting in three and featuring in all four of Tonga's matches, including the impressive 19-14 win in their final game over runners-up France
.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n-born, New Zealand-educated, 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...
player. He plays for Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
and internationally for 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...
. His position of choice is at loose-head prop and sometimes tight-head prop. He is known for his large size and fierce runs.
New Zealand and St Peter's College
Tonga’uiha moved from Tonga to Auckland, New Zealand with his family at the age of eight. At first, in Auckland, he played rugby league. He played rugby union from the age of 15 when he went to St Peter's College, AucklandSt Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College is a Catholic college for year 7 to 13 boys . The school, located in Auckland, is one of the largest Catholic schools in New Zealand and is an integrated school under an integration agreement entered into by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Government of New Zealand in...
the same Catholic school attended by Pat Lam
Pat Lam
Patrick Richard Lam is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer, of Samoan descent. He was the head coach of Auckland before being appointed head coach of Super 14 team the Blues in 2009. He went to St. Peter's College, Epsom, and captained the New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby team...
who also taught there. In his final year at school in 2000 the team went through the season undefeated, winning the Auckland Championship
Championship
Championship is a term used in sport to refer to various forms of competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.- Title match system :...
and the New Zealand First XV Knock out competition. The team was inspired by Pat Lam
Pat Lam
Patrick Richard Lam is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer, of Samoan descent. He was the head coach of Auckland before being appointed head coach of Super 14 team the Blues in 2009. He went to St. Peter's College, Epsom, and captained the New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby team...
.
Provincial
In 2001 Tonga’uiha was selected for the Auckland Colts side, playing one game against Japan.Tonga’uiha was selected for the Auckland team in 2002 and 2003 playing 12 games and scoring one try.
Super Rugby
Tonga’uiha was unable to gain a Super 14 contract and therefore looked for opportunities in the English club scene.Bedford Blues
He first made his break at Bedford BluesBedford Blues
Bedford Blues is a rugby union club in the town of Bedford, England, currently playing in The RFU Championship. Bedford is one of the largest towns in England without a league football club, and one of the few towns in England where the rugby club is better supported than the football team. The...
as he shone in the 2005/06 season, helping Bedford to a second-place finish behind rugby giants Harlequins
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
, and a Powergen Trophy final place. This combined with his mobile aggressive ball-carrying caused Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
to consider using him. He had also scored a try against Saints in Northampton's victory over Bedford Blues
Bedford Blues
Bedford Blues is a rugby union club in the town of Bedford, England, currently playing in The RFU Championship. Bedford is one of the largest towns in England without a league football club, and one of the few towns in England where the rugby club is better supported than the football team. The...
in the Powergen Cup game in December 2004.
Northampton Saints
Tonga'uiha moved to Northampton at the start of the 2006/07 season and at first – being behind ScotlandScotland 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...
and British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
legend Tom Smith
Tom Smith (rugby player)
Tom Smith is a rugby union coach and former player born in London, England who represented Scotland and the Lions.-Education and background:He was educated at Emanuel School in London and Rannoch School in Scotland...
- did not have too many starts in the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
. However, in the 2007/08 season, when Saints found themselves in National League 1, he excelled and earned a number of first team appearances as Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
cruised towards promotion at the end of the season.
This upward trend in performances continued into the 2008/09 season when – combined with Tom Smith's move towards coaching – Tonga'uiha cemented his place in the match-day squad and has had his fair share of appearances in the starting XV.
Tonga'uiha has become something of a crowd favourite at Franklin's Gardens with the nickname 'Tiny' – an ironic take on his size.
Saracens
On 27 January 2010, it was announced that Tonga'uiha would join SaracensSaracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
at the start of the 2010/11 season. However, in April 2010, he changed his mind and signed a new three-year contract with the Saints.
International career
New Zealand
Tonga’uiha played for the New Zealand under 19 team in 2001, winning the World Cup.In 2003 he was selected for the New Zealand under 21 team and again won the applicable age grade World Cup.
Tonga
Tonga'uiha's international career began in 2004 with selection to the newly formed Pacific Islanders rugby union teamPacific Islanders rugby union team
The Pacific Islanders rugby union team is an international rugby union team, started in 2004, that represents Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. While Niue and the Cook Islands are not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they did supply players to the squad for the Pacific Islanders' tour in 2004...
, a composite team made up of the best players from Samoa, Fiji and Tonga.
His career stalled after that as being a professional playing in Europe restricted him from summer tests for his native Tonga. His sights had been firmly set on the 2007 Rugby World Cup to be held in France – ensuring his and other seasoned professionals playing Europe's participation.
In 2007, he travelled to France as part of the Tongan national rugby team to take part in 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,...
, playing in all four games as Tonga upset the form book, beating the USA and archrivals Samoa and pushing eventual winners South Africa and runners-up England all the way. By the end of the tournament, Tonga'uiha had 7 caps for Tonga.
Tonga'uiha was again part of his country's World Cup squad for the 2011 event
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...
, starting in three and featuring in all four of Tonga's matches, including the impressive 19-14 win in their final game over runners-up France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
.