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Saia Fainga'a

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Saia Fainga'a (born 2 February 1987) is an Australian professional rugby union footballer.

Saia Fainga'a
Birth nameSaia M. Fainga'a
Date of birth (1987-02-02) 2 February 1987 (age 37)
Place of birthQueanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia[1]
Height187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight108 kg (17 st 0 lb; 238 lb)
SchoolSt Edmund's College, Canberra
Notable relative(s)Vili Fainga'a
Anthony Fainga'a
Colby Fainga'a[2]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker[3]
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007 Canberra Vikings 4 (5)
2014–2017 Queensland Country 5 (5)
2017–2020 London Irish 17 (0)
Correct as of 4 November 2015
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006–08 Brumbies 27 (0)
2009–16 Reds 99 (40)
2017 Brumbies 3 ()
Correct as of 21 July 2016
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010-15 Australia 36 (0)
2006 Australia U-19 4 (0)
2006 Australia U-21 3 (0)
2003–04 Australia Schoolboys 6 (?)
Correct as of 30 November 2014
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2008–09 Australia Sevens ?

Family and early life

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Saia Fainga'a was born in Queanbeyan, New South Wales,[1] and started playing rugby union at the age of 11 or 12 at the Queanbeyan club.[2] He was a member of the Brumbies Academy from the age of 14 and attended St Edmund's College, Canberra, where he was selected for the Australian Schools team in 2003 and 2004.[1][4]

Saia's twin brother Anthony, and younger brothers Vili and Colby are also professional rugby union players.[2] The Fainga'a's are of Tongan[5] English and Italian descent.[6]

Career

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Fainga'a made his Super 14 debut in 2006. He was fast-tracked into the Brumbies' side due to injuries in the squad, and played his first senior match for the Brumbies against the Stormers in Cape Town.[4] Later that year he captained the Australian Under 19s team to win the IRB World Championship in Dubai.[4] Fainga'a went on to earn 27 super rugby caps at the Brumbies from 2006 to 2008.[7] In 2008, Saia and his twin brother Anthony signed on to play with the Queensland Reds for the 2009 season. He made his Test debut for Australia in 2010 against Fiji in Canberra.[7] He played in all 18 matches of the Reds 2011 Super Rugby title-winning season, and was selected alongside his brother Anthony in the Wallabies squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, where Australia took third place.[7]

On 2 June 2017 it was announced he would move to England after signing for newly promoted Premiership side London Irish.[8] He was released ahead of the 2020–21 season.[9]

Reference list

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  1. ^ a b c "Saia Fainga'a ACT Brumbies" (PDF). Territory and Municipal Services. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Sen, Djuro (2010), "By Hook or by Crook", Official Program, Qantas Wallabies Matchday, Australia v Ireland – Saturday, June 26, 2010, Australian Rugby Union, pp. 14–17, archived from the original on 21 February 2014, retrieved 24 June 2010
  3. ^ Phil Lutton (17 March 2010). "Two down – more signings to come, says Reds boss". Brisbane Times.
  4. ^ a b c "Wallabies Profile". rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Saia Fainga'a". ABC radio. 17 February 2010.[dead link‍]
  6. ^ Geddes, Jon (9 July 2009). "One Ella-va feat". The Daily Telegraph.
  7. ^ a b c "Reds Profile". redsrugby.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  8. ^ "NEW SIGNING: London Irish land 36-times capped Australian". London Irish. London Irish Scottish Richmond Ltd.
  9. ^ "Thank you to the leavers | 4th July 2020 | News". London Irish. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
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