David Fa'alogo
Encyclopedia
David Fa'alogo is a professional rugby league
footballer with the Huddersfield Giants
of Super League
, formerly contracted with the South Sydney Rabbitohs
of the National Rugby League
. A New Zealand international representative second-row forward, he played his whole NRL career with the Rabbitohs until his contract was terminated in 2009.
His brother, Sala
, also played professionally for idnes Vikings|Widnes], And his younger brother john currently plays with balmain tigers under 16s
Fa'alogo played in the Bartercard Cup
before being signed to the National Rugby League
.
In 2006 he won the George Piggins Medal as the South Sydney club's best and fairest player of the season.
He came under intense scrutiny on 1 September 2007 in a match against the Sydney Roosters
, in which he "king-hit" Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta
, which resulted in a seven-week playing ban from the NRL judiciary.
In 2008 he was sent home from a club trip to Florida and fined $10,000 after punching a member of the public at a taxi rank.
In September 2009 he punched coach Jason Taylor in the head during end of season celebrations, knocking him to the ground. He was reportedly provoked by Taylor's rough horseplay.
Off the field the "hardman" of league is married to wife Melissa and according to the South Sydney website Fa'alogo enjoys horse riding, jet skiing and the TV show CSI.
He is of Samoan descent, although was not named in the Samoan training Squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
In August 2008, Fa'alogo was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
, and in October 2008, he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad. Fa'alogo featured in the 17-man squad that defeated Australia in the final of the 2008 World Cup to claim New Zealand's first title.
Fa'alogo signed a four year deal with English Super League
club Huddersfield Giants
in May 2009, for the start of the 2010 season
. If the contract is honoured to its end, it would keep Fa'alogo at the club until he is the age of 33. It would make Fa'alogo one of two 2008 World Cup winners in the Super League at the start of the 2010 season, the other being Thomas Leuluai
.
On 17 September, Fa'alogo's contract with South Sydney was terminated due to an altercation with coach Jason Taylor at the rabbitohs' 'Mad Monday
' celebrations at the Forresters hotel in Surry Hills. Taylor also lost his position over the incident.
against England
at Headingley on 10
June 2011.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer with the Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
of Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
, formerly contracted with the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. A New Zealand international representative second-row forward, he played his whole NRL career with the Rabbitohs until his contract was terminated in 2009.
His brother, Sala
Sala Fa'alogo
Sala Fa'alogo is a New Zealand rugby league player who played professionally for Widnes in the Super League. He currently plays for the Mount Albert Lions in the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition....
, also played professionally for idnes Vikings|Widnes], And his younger brother john currently plays with balmain tigers under 16s
Playing career
Weighing in at 104 kg and with a height of 180 cm, Fa'alogo is a versatile second rower with a reputation for a high work rate and solid defence.Fa'alogo played in the Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
before being signed to the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
.
In 2006 he won the George Piggins Medal as the South Sydney club's best and fairest player of the season.
He came under intense scrutiny on 1 September 2007 in a match against the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, in which he "king-hit" Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta
Braith Anasta
Braith Anasta is a Greek-Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League...
, which resulted in a seven-week playing ban from the NRL judiciary.
In 2008 he was sent home from a club trip to Florida and fined $10,000 after punching a member of the public at a taxi rank.
In September 2009 he punched coach Jason Taylor in the head during end of season celebrations, knocking him to the ground. He was reportedly provoked by Taylor's rough horseplay.
Off the field the "hardman" of league is married to wife Melissa and according to the South Sydney website Fa'alogo enjoys horse riding, jet skiing and the TV show CSI.
He is of Samoan descent, although was not named in the Samoan training Squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
In August 2008, Fa'alogo was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
, and in October 2008, he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad. Fa'alogo featured in the 17-man squad that defeated Australia in the final of the 2008 World Cup to claim New Zealand's first title.
Fa'alogo signed a four year deal with English Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
club Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
in May 2009, for the start of the 2010 season
Super League XV
The 2010 Super League season was the fifteenth season of rugby league football since the Super League format was introduced in 1996. Fourteen teams competed for the League Leader's Shield over 27 rounds . All clubs also participated in the 2010 Challenge Cup tournament...
. If the contract is honoured to its end, it would keep Fa'alogo at the club until he is the age of 33. It would make Fa'alogo one of two 2008 World Cup winners in the Super League at the start of the 2010 season, the other being Thomas Leuluai
Thomas Leuluai
Thomas Leuluai is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League. His position is at half-back...
.
On 17 September, Fa'alogo's contract with South Sydney was terminated due to an altercation with coach Jason Taylor at the rabbitohs' 'Mad Monday
Mad Monday
Mad Monday is a term commonly used in Australia to refer to the traditional end-of-season celebrations for professional players of various codes of football...
' celebrations at the Forresters hotel in Surry Hills. Taylor also lost his position over the incident.
Rugby League International Origin Match
David Fa'alogo was selected for the Exiles squad for the Rugby League International Origin MatchRugby League International Origin Match
The Rugby League International Origin Match is an annual rugby league fixture between the English national side and an Exiles side consisting of foreign players currently playing in the English Super League competition. The match was held for the first time at Headingley Carnegie Stadium in Leeds...
against England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
at Headingley on 10
June 2011.
Career highlights
- Junior Club: Mount Albert Club, Auckland, New Zealand
- First Grade début: Round 10, South Sydney v Cronulla at Toyota Park, 18 May 2003
- International début: New Zealand in 2006 against Australia