Sitaleki Timani
Birth name | Sitaleki Timani | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 19 September 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Kolonga, Tonga[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 118 kg (18.6 st; 260 lb)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sitaleki Timani (born 19 September 1986), is a
Family and early life
Sitaleki Timani was born in the Tongan village of Kolonga. His brothers Sione and Lopeti are both international rugby players.[3]
Timani played soccer until he attended Tonga College 'Atele and was introduced to rugby union. He was selected for the Tongan Schoolboys rugby team in 2003, and won a scholarship to attend Auckland Grammar School in New Zealand.[1]
He moved to Australia at the age of 19 and switched codes, playing
Rugby union career
In August 2007, Timani returned to rugby union, playing for
Timani then took up a development contract with the
His decision to play for Australia meant he became ineligible to play for Tonga[7] and it probably cost him an appearance at the Rugby World Cup later that year. He was not selected in the Australian squad for the 2011 tournament but probably would have been selected for Tonga, if eligible.[6]
In 2013, he signed a three-year deal with French side,
Timani returned to Australia in 2021, rejoining the Western Force to play in the Super Rugby AU competition.[9]
Personal life
On 15 December 2012, Sitaleki married Angela (née Kelava), whom he had been dating for three years.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b c d Harris, Bret (29 January 2009). "Brumbies giant runs with Stuart in mind". Australian. News. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ a b "Sitaleki Timani". ASM Rugby. 2017. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
- ^ "2012 Extended Playing Squad announced". nswrugby.com.au. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Spirit name five Wallabies for ARC debut". Sports Australia. 7 August 2007. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ "Mulvihill disappointed in result but pleased with season". Rugby.com.au. 7 October 2007. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ^ a b "Sitaleki Timani player profile". ARU. 2012. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
- ^ Under IRB regulations, a player becomes permanently committed to a nation upon his first presence in a matchday squad with the country's full national team, "A" national team, or sevens national team. "Regulation 8: Eligibility to Play for National Representative Teams" (PDF). Regulations Relating to the Game. International Rugby Board. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2011. See especially Regulations 8.1 through 8.4.
- ^ Robinson, Georgina (5 April 2013). "Timani gets up to speed for Tahs before flight to France". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Western Force sign former Wallabies lock Sitaleki Timani". ESPN. 8 March 2021.
External links
- Club stats on It's Rugby
- ARU Player Profile
- Waratahs Profile