Alando Soakai
Encyclopedia
Alando Soakai is a professional rugby union
player who plays for the Kubota Spears
in the Japanese Top League
as a flanker
. Prior to his move to Japan, he was a long-term member of the Highlanders in the Super 15 competition and Otago in the ITM Cup, serving as captain of Otago in their 2009 and 2010 campaigns.
, where he played alongside current professional rugby players Ben Atiga
, Benson Stanley
, and Isa Nacewa
. He shifted south to Dunedin
in 2002 to attend the University of Otago
, eventually signing to play provincial rugby for Otago.
After spending the 2004 season on loan with Southland, Soakai made his debut for Otago in 2005 and by the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup
was a regular starter for the squad. In ensuing seasons, he developed into one of Otago's most reliable players, and was selected team captain for the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup
.
In the 2010 ITM Cup
, Soakai made his 50th appearance for Otago and set a personal best with 3 tries over the course of the season, but endured a difficult season as captain as the team had a disastrous year to finish dead last in the competition.
, and appeared in all but one game for the team including 7 starts. After a mass exodus from the club following the 2007 Rugby World Cup
, Soakai solidified his spot as the team's starting openside flanker
in 2008
.
Soakai continued to be a fixture for the Highlanders through the 2009
and 2010
Super 14 seasons, starting 12 out of the 13 matches in both years.
New Zealand Sevens player, and has represented New Zealand and won a Commonwealth Games
gold medal in Melbourne in 2006 and a IRB World Sevens Series title in 2007.
Following a strong 2009 Super Rugby season, Soakai was selected to the Junior All Blacks
for the 2009 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
. He appeared in all 4 games in the tournament, including a start against Japan, as the squad swept their way to victory.
Another solid Super Rugby season in 2010, Soakai earn the opportunity to captain the New Zealand Barbarians against the New Zealand Maori
, marking 100 years of Maori Rugby. Both teams produced numerous experienced Super Rugby players and current and future All Blacks
in the likes of John Afoa
and Rene Ranger
.
Soakai is one of a few openside flankers in New Zealand (along with Karl Lowe
and Scott Waldrom
) whose chances of reaching full All Black
status have been severely hindered by the misfortune of playing the same position as world rugby's dominant openside flanker, Richie McCaw
.
Having played for the Junior All Blacks
and the New Zealand Sevens team, has also hindered his eligibility to play for his native country Tonga national rugby union team
, also known as Ikale Tahi.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player who plays for the Kubota Spears
Kubota Spears
Kubota Spears is a Japanese rugby union team which is based in Funabashi, Chiba and they play in the Top League.Their slogan for the 2006 season was FIGHT ON.-2011-12 Squad:...
in the Japanese Top League
Top League
The Top League is a professional rugby union league created by the Japan Rugby Football Union to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport in the country and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The first season was 2003-04 and featured 12 teams...
as a flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
. Prior to his move to Japan, he was a long-term member of the Highlanders in the Super 15 competition and Otago in the ITM Cup, serving as captain of Otago in their 2009 and 2010 campaigns.
Provincial Rugby
Of Tongan descent, Soakai was educated at Auckland Grammar SchoolAuckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys in Auckland, New Zealand. It had a roll of 2,483 in 2008, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Tibbs' House, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand...
, where he played alongside current professional rugby players Ben Atiga
Ben Atiga
Benjamin Alo Charles Atiga is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and plays centre and fullback. Atiga is a product of Auckland Grammar School. He has currently played only 1 test for the All Blacks, he got called into the 2003 All Blacks World Cup squad as an injury replacement and got his cap...
, Benson Stanley
Benson Stanley
Benson Stanley is a rugby union player for the Blues in the Super 14 competition. Stanley is a product of Auckland Grammar. He plays as a centre. Benson is one of the Stanley rugby clan that includes Chase, Joe and Kyle...
, and Isa Nacewa
Isa Nacewa
Isakeli Nacewa is a New Zealand-born rugby union footballer of Fijian descent. He is a utility back and represents Leinster Rugby in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup competitions. He previously represented the Blues in the Super Rugby competition and Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup...
. He shifted south to Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
in 2002 to attend the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, eventually signing to play provincial rugby for Otago.
After spending the 2004 season on loan with Southland, Soakai made his debut for Otago in 2005 and by the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup
2006 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2006 Air New Zealand Cup is a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Friday 28 July 2006, and the Grand Final was won by Waikato on 21 October 2006....
was a regular starter for the squad. In ensuing seasons, he developed into one of Otago's most reliable players, and was selected team captain for the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup
2009 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2009 Air New Zealand Cup was the 33rd provincial rugby union competition, the fourth since the competition reconstruction in 2006, involving the top 14 provincial unions in New Zealand. It ran for 15 weeks from 30 July to 7 November...
.
In the 2010 ITM Cup
2010 ITM Cup
The 2010 ITM Cup was the 34th provincial rugby union competition, the fifth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the first under the new sponsor of ITM , involving the top 14 provincial unions of New Zealand...
, Soakai made his 50th appearance for Otago and set a personal best with 3 tries over the course of the season, but endured a difficult season as captain as the team had a disastrous year to finish dead last in the competition.
Super Rugby
Soakai was selected to the Highlanders squad for the 2007 Super 14 season2007 Super 14 season
The 2007 Super 14 season started in February 2007 with preseason matches held from mid-January. It finished on 19 May with the final at ABSA Stadium in Durban, in the first final between two South African teams in the history of Super Rugby...
, and appeared in all but one game for the team including 7 starts. After a mass exodus from the club following the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
, Soakai solidified his spot as the team's starting openside flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
in 2008
2008 Super 14 season
The 2008 Super 14 season started in February 2008 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 31 May, when the Crusaders won their seventh Super Rugby title with a 20–12 victory over the Waratahs in front of the Crusaders' home fans. The 2008 season was the third of the expansion,...
.
Soakai continued to be a fixture for the Highlanders through the 2009
2009 Super 14 season
The 2009 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2009 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 30 May, when the Bulls won their second Super Rugby title with a decisive 61–17 victory over the Waikato Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. The 2009 season...
and 2010
2010 Super 14 season
The 2010 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2010 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 29 May. The 2010 season was the fifth and last season of the expanded Super 14 format. The schedule, which covers 3½ months, featured a total of 94 matches, with each team playing one...
Super 14 seasons, starting 12 out of the 13 matches in both years.
International Play
Soakai is an accomplished rugby sevensRugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
New Zealand Sevens player, and has represented New Zealand and won a Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
gold medal in Melbourne in 2006 and a IRB World Sevens Series title in 2007.
Following a strong 2009 Super Rugby season, Soakai was selected to the Junior All Blacks
Junior All Blacks
The Junior All Blacks are a New Zealand rugby union team. The Junior All Blacks are not an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby union team....
for the 2009 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
2009 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
The 2009 Pacific Nations Cup is a rugby union tournament held between five national sides on the Pacific Rim: Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks. The New Zealand Māori team that won the tournament last year will no longer take part in this competition because of a decision taken by...
. He appeared in all 4 games in the tournament, including a start against Japan, as the squad swept their way to victory.
Another solid Super Rugby season in 2010, Soakai earn the opportunity to captain the New Zealand Barbarians against the New Zealand Maori
New Zealand Maori
New Zealand Māori can refer to:* People of Māori descent* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori rugby league team* New Zealand Māori cricket team...
, marking 100 years of Maori Rugby. Both teams produced numerous experienced Super Rugby players and current and future All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in the likes of John Afoa
John Afoa
Ioane Fitu "John" Afoa is a New Zealand professional Rugby union player and plays prop and hooker. Afoa currently plays for Ulster after signing a two-and-a-half year deal after the 2011 Rugby World Cup.-Representative Rugby:...
and Rene Ranger
Rene Ranger
Rene Ranger is a rugby union player who represents Northland in the ITM Cup and the Blues in the Super 15. Ranger made his debut for New Zealand on 26 June 2010 after a superb season with the Blues...
.
Soakai is one of a few openside flankers in New Zealand (along with Karl Lowe
Karl Lowe
Karl Lowe is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He currently plays at Openside Flanker for the Hurricanes.-Career:...
and Scott Waldrom
Scott Waldrom
Scott Waldrom is a professional rugby union player from New Zealand. Scott currently plays for the Waikato Chiefs in the Super 15 and Taranaki in the ITM Cup...
) whose chances of reaching full All Black
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
status have been severely hindered by the misfortune of playing the same position as world rugby's dominant openside flanker, Richie McCaw
Richie McCaw
Richard Hugh "Richie" McCaw is a New Zealand rugby union player, and is the current test captain. He plays in the openside flanker position for the New Zealand, Crusaders and Canterbury rugby teams...
.
Having played for the Junior All Blacks
Junior All Blacks
The Junior All Blacks are a New Zealand rugby union team. The Junior All Blacks are not an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby union team....
and the New Zealand Sevens team, has also hindered his eligibility to play for his native country Tonga national rugby union team
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
, also known as Ikale Tahi.