Junior Polu
Encyclopedia
Junior Poluleuligaga is a Samoa
n rugby union
international
player. He currently plays for Exeter Chiefs
in the Aviva Premiership. He plays as a Scrum-half and was educated at De La Salle College, Mangere East
. His name is often abbreviated to Junior Polu.
and in 2006 was selected to nationalise to play for his parents country, representing composite side Pacific Islanders
as a Samoa
n, having been unwanted for the 2004 tour due to the presence of So'oialo.
contract and returned home.
in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup in the summer of 2007 due to the absence of So'oialo. Here he was again 2nd choice to So'oialo, although his luck was about the change.
and eventual champions South Africa
. Polu was selected ahead of So'oialo for the opening game against the springboks, which they lost despite an encouraging start. So'oialo was restored for the derby game against Tonga
which despite entering as overwhelming favourates lost 19-12. Polu was once again restored for the do or die game with England
setting up an excellent try for Mahonri Schwalger
. Having travelled north to France for the world cup Polu joined RC Toulon on a short term deal.
ironically moving to join So'oialo, and has since ousted his great rival for the bench spot behind England
scrum half Danny Care. When his Harlequins contract finished in the summer of 2009 he joined the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the Air New Zealand Cup.
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n rugby union
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...
international
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
player. He currently plays for Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Rugby Club are a rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon.The Exeter club was formed around 1871 and played its first match in 1873. The first team has been rebranded as the Exeter Chiefs and play in a strip of Black , White ....
in the Aviva Premiership. He plays as a Scrum-half and was educated at De La Salle College, Mangere East
De La Salle College, Mangere East
De La Salle College is an integrated Catholic secondary boys' school Auckland, New Zealand. Established in 1953 by the De La Salle Brothers, it continues to educate young men in the Catholic faith and Christian values. Students are encouraged to develop every aspect of their person and a strong...
. His name is often abbreviated to Junior Polu.
Career
So much of Junior Poluleuligaga's career depended on his great rival Steve So'oialo. Polu began his career by breaking into the North Harbour provinacal side, he was spotted for the Samoan national teamSamoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
and in 2006 was selected to nationalise to play for his parents country, representing composite side Pacific Islanders
Pacific Islanders rugby union team
The Pacific Islanders rugby union team is an international rugby union team, started in 2004, that represents Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. While Niue and the Cook Islands are not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they did supply players to the squad for the Pacific Islanders' tour in 2004...
as a Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n, having been unwanted for the 2004 tour due to the presence of So'oialo.
Pacific Islanders' Tour
A solid tour as Mosese Rauluni's understudy lead to several offers from European clubs, but Polu declined and remained true to his North HarbourNorth Harbour
North Harbour may refer to:* North Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador, a community on St. Mary's Bay, Newfoundland, Canada* North Harbour, New Zealand, a suburb in Auckland, New Zealand* North Harbour, Nova Scotia, a small community in Nova Scotia, Canada...
contract and returned home.
International career
Following the success of the Pacific Islanders tour Polu represented SamoaSamoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup in the summer of 2007 due to the absence of So'oialo. Here he was again 2nd choice to So'oialo, although his luck was about the change.
2007 World Cup
So'oialo and Polu were both selected for the 2007 RWC squad, as Samoa looked to upset 2003 champions EnglandEngland national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
and eventual champions South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
. Polu was selected ahead of So'oialo for the opening game against the springboks, which they lost despite an encouraging start. So'oialo was restored for the derby game against Tonga
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...
which despite entering as overwhelming favourates lost 19-12. Polu was once again restored for the do or die game with England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
setting up an excellent try for Mahonri Schwalger
Mahonri Schwalger
Mahonri Schwalger is a professional rugby union footballer who plays for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition and for Taranaki in the ITM Cup. He is also currently the captain of the Samoan national team....
. Having travelled north to France for the world cup Polu joined RC Toulon on a short term deal.
Harlequins
In the off season before the 2008/09 season he signed for HarlequinsHarlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
ironically moving to join So'oialo, and has since ousted his great rival for the bench spot behind England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
scrum half Danny Care. When his Harlequins contract finished in the summer of 2009 he joined the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the Air New Zealand Cup.