Saimone Taumoepeau

Saimone Taumoepeau
Date of birth	21 December 1979 (age 44)
Place of birth	Ha'apai, Tonga
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	111 kg (17 st 7 lb)
School	Tupou College Tonga
Notable relative(s)	Tevita Taumoepeau (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Prop Hooker
Amateur team(s)
Years	Team
	Auckland Marist
	Correct as of 1 Sept 2006
Senior career
Years	Team
2007-2011; 2011-2016; 2016; 2016-	RC Toulonnais; Castres Olympique; CA Brive; AS Lavaur
	Correct as of 2 November 2018
Provincial / State sides
Years	Team
2004-2007	Auckland
	Correct as of 9 September 2006
Super Rugby
Years	Team
2005-2007	Blues
	Correct as of 9 September 2006
International career
Years	Team
2004-2005	New Zealand
	Correct as of 1 Sept 2006

Saimone Taumoepeau (born 21 December 1979 in Ha'apai, Tonga) is a professional rugby union player in France. He is the younger brother of Tevita Taumoepeau.

Career

Born in Tonga, Taumoepeau emigrated to New Zealand in 1997.^[1] Taumoepeau was a shock selection in the 2004 end-of-year All Blacks squad after having only made his debut that season in provincial rugby's Air New Zealand Cup and having yet to play Super Rugby.^[2] He first made his name as a loosehead prop, but made his debut as a hooker for the Junior All Blacks. He played his rugby for Auckland at provincial level and the Blues at Super 14 level before moving to French club Toulon.^[3]

While considered to be on the smaller side of the scale compared to most international props in terms of physical size, Taumoepeau has made a reputation for being a devastating scrummager via technique and brute strength. He also proved to be a reliable hooker for both Auckland, the Blues and at Junior All Blacks level.

Taumoepeau signed with Toulon in 2007,^[4] having joined them after that year's New Zealand season and won the French Pro D2 Championship 2007–2008. He played for Castres Olympique between 2011 and 2016, and won the French top 14 Championship in 2012–13.

Honours

Club

Castres

Top 14: 2012–13^[5]

References

^ Chris Rattue (26 October 2004). "Silent partner is a scrumming dynamo". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
^ "Saimone Taumoepeau". Blues. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
^ Michel Estienne (1 January 2014). "The Quiet Man". NZ Rugby World. No. 164. pp. 62–65 – via EBSCOHost.
^ "Lavaur. Saimone Taumoepeau, un homme humble qui force le respect" (in French). LaDepeche.fr. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
^ "KOCKOTT TAKES CASTRES TO THE TOP". rugby365.com. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2021.

External links

Saimone Taumoepeau at AllBlacks.com

[NZH2004-1] Chris Rattue (26 October 2004). "Silent partner is a scrumming dynamo". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2021.

[2] "Saimone Taumoepeau". Blues. Retrieved 26 October 2021.

[3] Michel Estienne (1 January 2014). "The Quiet Man". NZ Rugby World. No. 164. pp. 62–65 – via EBSCOHost.

[4] "Lavaur. Saimone Taumoepeau, un homme humble qui force le respect" (in French). LaDepeche.fr. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2021.

[5] "KOCKOTT TAKES CASTRES TO THE TOP". rugby365.com. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2021.

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