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by | Mar 29, 2018 | Vernonia

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Salesi Halaleva Lapota Fifita (born 29 July 1989) is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Top 14 club Oyonnax Rugby and the Tonga national team.[1][2]

Professional career

Club

Fifita started his professional career in 2016 playing for Waikato, having previously played for Hamilton Old Boys.[3] In February 2017 he trained with the Chiefs development squad,[4] but not play any of the three friendly matches scheduled for the team.

In December 2017 he joined Rugby Pro D2 team FC Grenoble as a replacement for Mickaël Capelli.[5] In March 2018 he extended his contract until June 2019.[6] He later extended his contract for three more seasons.[7] In June 2021 he activated his departure clause early, leaving Grenoble and signing with Irish team Connacht.[8][9][10] He made his debut for the club in September 2021.[11]

He joins Oyonnax Rugby in August 2023.[12]

International

He made his international debut for Tonga against Wales on 16 June 2017.[13][14] He was also part of the Tongan team which emerged as runners-up to Fiji at the 2017 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup. He was included in the Tongan squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.[15][16] He played four games in this competition, against England, Argentina, France and the United States.[17] He was selected again to play against Scotland in Tonga's 2021 tour of the northern hemisphere.[18]

References

  1. ^ Liam Napier (25 November 2017). "Rugby: How Fifita fits Rookie of Year criteria". ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Leva Fifita". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Waikato name national provincial championship squad with classy backline". Stuff. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Bay players make Chiefs development squad". New Zealand Herald. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  5. ^ "FCG : Talakai et Fifita se sont engagés" (in French). Le Dauphine. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Grenoble : le Tongien Fifita prolonge" (in French). Rugbyrama. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Grenoble : Leva Fifita a prolongé jusqu'en 2022" (in French). L'Equipe. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Pro D2 : Leva Fifita quitte le FCG !" (in French). Le Dauphine. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  9. ^ Adam Kyriacou (31 May 2021). "Connacht sign Tongan powerhouse Leva Fifita". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Connacht sign Tonga international Leva Fifita from Grenoble". Irish Examiner. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Leva Fifita in line for debut as Connacht welcome Vodacom Bulls to Sportsground". Huge Rugby. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  12. ^ "LEVA FIFITA, NOUVEL OYOMAN – OYONNAX RUGBY" (in French). 29 October 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Tonga v Wales". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  14. ^ "Sport: Tonga picks new look front-row for Wales rugby test". RNZ. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Kefu names squad tasked with making history". rugbyworldcup.com. Rugby World Cup. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  16. ^ Aaron Goile (2 September 2019). "Rugby World Cup 2019: Tonga 'fixated' on playoffs dream, says coach Toutai Kefu". Stuff. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Leva Fifita Tonga". ESPN. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Tonga select eight new caps to face Scotland". RNZ. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
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