Salesi Ma'afu

Salesi Ma'afu, (born 26 March 1983 in Camperdown, Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby union footballer.

Salesi Ma'afu

Birth name	Salesi L. Ma'afu
Date of birth	(1983-03-26) 26 March 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth	Sydney, Australia
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight	275 lb (125 kg)
School	Granville and Ashfield Boys High Schools[1]
Notable relative(s)	Campese Ma'afu (brother) Apakuki Ma'afu (brother) Tatafu Polota-Nau (cousin)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Tighthead prop Current team RC Narbonne Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2003–2008 Warringah () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2013–2015 Northampton Saints 62 (5) 2015 Toulon (6) (0) 2015-2016 Cardiff Blues 16 (5) 2016–2017 Gloucester Rugby 14 (10) 2017– RC Narbonne () Correct as of 26 December 2014 Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2004–2011 Brumbies 92 (20) 2012–2013 Western Force 23 (0) Correct as of 15 July 2013 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2007–2008 Australia A 2010 Australia 20 (5) – West Harbour – Joonadalup Brothers

Early life

Ma'afu was educated at Granville and Ashfield Boys High Schools in Sydney and played rugby league as a youngster in the Balmain district before starting up with rugby, aged 11. Ma'afu first made his mark at representative level in the NSW Under-19 side in 2001 and 2002, later featuring in the Waratahs Academy through 2004 and 2005.

Club career

He signed with the ACT Brumbies in 2005 and made his Super Rugby debut in 2007.^[2] Ma'afu made the Australia A squad the same year, ending his year with a late-season appearance for the British Barbarians club during its 22-5 win over the new Rugby World Cup holders, South Africa. In the NSW club competition, after spending two years with Warringah, in 2009 Ma'afu returned to West Harbour, where he played alongside his brother Campese.^[1]

In 2011, Ma'afu signed to join the Perth-based Western Force, to commence 2012. He also is the club ambassador for local club, Joondalup Brothers RUFC, for whom himself and his children played.^[3]

Before the commencement of the 2013 Super Rugby season Ma'afu signed with the English Premiership side Northampton Saints ahead of the 2013/2014 season.^[4] Ma'afu became a regular in the side, helping them to victory in both the Premiership^[5] and the European Challenge Cup. On 13 June 2015, Maafu would join top French club Toulon in the Top 14 on a two-year contract.^[6] After being released from his contract by the club, Ma’afu spent a season at Cardiff Rugby. Ma'afu returned to Aviva Premiership to sign for English club Gloucester Rugby^[7]

On 23 May 2017, Maafu returns to France as he signed for Pro D2 side RC Narbonne ahead of the 2017-18 season.^[8]

International career

Ma'afu's first test cap was in 2010 against Fiji, where he had the unusual challenge of marking his brother, who was also playing on debut. The pair became just the fourth set of brothers to oppose each other in Tests, and the first to achieve this feat when both were on debut.^[9] Subsequent tests in 2010 against England, Ireland, and South Africa completed a strong year for the prop.

In 2011 Ma'afu was selected in the Wallabies squad for the Rugby World Cup, in New Zealand.^[1][10]

References

1. "Player profile: Salesi Ma'afu". Wallabies. Australian Rugby Union. 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
2. Harris, Bret (2 October 2009). "Salesi Ma'afu commits to the Brumbies, aims for Wallabies spot". Australian. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
3. "Force sign up Brumbies prop Ma'afu". ABC Perth. Australia. AAP. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
4. Bazeley, Marc (4 February 2013). "Northampton Saints sign Salesi Ma'afu". Northampton News. UK. AAP. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
5. "Premiership final: Saracens 20-24 Northampton Saints". BBC. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
6. "Northampton tight-head prop Salesi Ma'afu has joined Toulon". Sky Sports. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
7. "Gloucester sign former Wallabies tight-head prop Salesi Ma'afu from Cardiff Blues". BBC Sport. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
8. "Former Wallabies tight-head prop Salesi Maafu signs for French Pro D2 club RC Narbonne" (in French). Rugbyrama.fr. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
9. Growden, Greg (2 June 2010). "Test first as prop brothers square off". Age. Australia: Fairfax. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
10. Growden, Greg (11 August 2011). "Ma'afu bolts into Test reckoning as Deans stiffens up pack for Boks". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 2 October 2011.

External links

• Media related to Salesi Ma'afu at Wikimedia Commons
• Western Force Profile
• itsrugby.co.uk profile