Pelu Ian Taele-Pavihi (born 28 September 1981, in Dunedin), also known as Pelu Taele, is a New Zealand-born Samoan and Niue international rugby union footballer.[1] He is a 1.98 metres (6 ft 6 in) second row forward who joined Biarritz Olympique before the 2009–10 season.[2][3]
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| Birth name | Pelu Ian Taele-Pavihi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 28 September 1981 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Dunedin, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 251 lb (114 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Club career
editTaele played for the Highlanders development squad in 2004[4] and represented Otago in the National Provincial Championship. He signed for Saracens in July 2006, with the intention of joining up with the squad after completing the New Zealand season with Otago.[5] By the time he arrived in England, there was too much competition for his position at Saracens so he was loaned to Leeds Tykes.[6] Taele then spent two seasons with Overmach Parma, where he was part of the team that won the Coppa Italia in both 2008 and 2009.[7][8] Before the 2009–10 season Taele moved to Biarritz Olympique.[3] In 2014 he signed a two-year deal with Aviron Bayonnais.[9]
International career
editTaele gained selection for the Samoan national side by virtue of his performances with Otago.[10] He made his international debut against Tonga in July 2005 and was in the starting XV against England later the same year. He featured in the 2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations squad with tests against the Junior All Blacks, Fiji, Tonga and Japan, and (as of November 2011) has eight caps in total.[11]
References
edit- ^ "The Niue Rugby Union Notice Board: Further Addition to 'WNRAI – ANRAI COMPETITION". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ "Players & Officials / Pelu Taele-Pavihi". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
- ^ a b "Index card of player Taele-Pavihi Pelu". It's Rugby. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
- ^ "Webb goes for Highlanders spot". ESPNscrum. 28 January 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
- ^ "Samoan adds weight to Saracens pack". Saracens F.C. 13 July 2006. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
- ^ "Pavihi joins Tykes on loan". Saracens F.C. 4 December 2006. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
- ^ "Al Sergio Lanfranchi di Parma la finale di Coppa Italia 2008" [2008 Coppa Italia final from Parma's Sergio Lanfranchi Stadium] (in Italian). Lega Italiana Rugby d’Eccellenza. 6 February 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
- ^ "Finale Coppa Italia 2009: La diretta Web testuale" [2008 Coppa Italia final: Live text] (in Italian). Lega Italiana Rugby d’Eccellenza. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
- ^ "Taele signs for Bayonne". Planet Rugby. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Samoa announce touring party". ESPN. 28 May 2005. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Pelu Taele-Pavihi / Test matches". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 3 October 2009.