Timothy Lafaele

Timothy Lafaele (Japanese: ティモシー・ラファエレ, born 19 August 1991) is an American Samoan-born, Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a fly-half or centre.^[1] He currently plays for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and the Kobelco Steelers in Japan's domestic Top League.^[2][3] He received Japanese citizenship in 2017.^[4]

Timothy Lafaele

Date of birth	(1991-08-19) 19 August 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth	Pago Pago, American Samoa
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	98 kg (15 st 6 lb; 216 lb)
School	De La Salle College, New Zealand
University	Yamanashi Gakuin University, Japan
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half / Centre Current team Kobelco Steelers Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2014–2018 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 46 (119) 2017–2019 Sunwolves 21 (32) 2020– Kobelco Steelers 7 (20) Correct as of 21 February 2021 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2016–present Japan 23 (32) Correct as of 21 February 2021

Club career

Lafaele has played all of his senior rugby in Japan with the Coca-Cola Red Sparks, who he joined in 2014.^[5]

International

Lafaele received his first call-up for his adopted country Japan's senior squad ahead of the 2016 end-of-year rugby union internationals. He debuted as a second-half replacement in new head coach, Jamie Joseph's first game, a 54-20 loss at home to Argentina.^[1]

References

1. "Timothy Lafaele ESPN Scrum Player Profile". ESPN. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
2. "Timothy Lafaele Top League Player Profile" (in Japanese). Top League. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
3. "Timothy Lafaele Coca-Cola Red Sparks Player Profile" (in Japanese). CC West. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
4. "Another high school rugby star headed for Japan". Otago Daily Times. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
5. "Timothy Lafaele itsrugby Player Statistics". itsrugby. Retrieved 7 November 2016.