Leo Halavatau

Leo Halavatau (born 21 November 1983) is a Tongan rugby union player.

Leo Halavatau

Birth name	Leo Halavatau
Date of birth	(1983-11-21) 21 November 1983 (age 40)
Place of birth	Tonga
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	123 kg (19 st 5 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2011–2016 2016- Birmingham & Solihull London Irish Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente 62 - (10) - Correct as of 28 February 2014 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2017 Tonga 1 (0) Correct as of 25 November 2017

Leo joined the Sunbry-based Aviva Premiership outfit from the former Championship side Birmingham & Solihull for the start of the 2011/12 season. He made his debut for the club, coming off the bench to replace Faan Rautenbach in the London Double Header fixture against Harlequins at the start of that season, before earning his first start the following week against Sale Sharks. Leo went on to make 11 appearances for the club in his first season, and November 2012 signed a 3-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2015/16 season.^[1]

With injuries to fellow tightheads during the 2013/14 season Halavatau has featured in all but one of the exiles matchday squads, earning plaudits for both his workrate around the park and his scrummaging. Leo has had experiences with playing back row. He made his 100th appearance for London Irish in December 2015.^[2] He was released by London Irish in 2016.^[3]

In 2021 he moved to Chatres Rugby.^[4] In March 2022 he signed a one-year contract extension.^[5]

References

1. "BBC Sport - London Irish: Leo Halavatau signs new Exiles deal". BBC Online. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
2. "Halavatau up for ton as Rouse returns". 17 December 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
3. "Trio released by London Irish". Planet Rugby. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
4. "SA XV: Gourdon recrute Halavatau à Chartres" (in French). Charente Libre. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
5. "Léo Halavatau, l'un des "papas" du C'Chartres Rugby" (in French). L'Echo Republican. 27 March 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.

External links

• London Irish Profile