Ma'afu Fia
Encyclopedia
Ma'afu Fia is a rugby union
prop who currently plays provincial rugby for Manawatu
in the ITM Cup and the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition.
but trained in New Zealand
, Fia had a stellar year in 2009 as he broke into the Manawatu
provincial squad for the Air New Zealand Cup
competition and helped New Zealand to the IRB World Under-20 title. As a result, he was named Manawatu's Outstanding Junior Sportsperson for 2009.
In the 2010 ITM Cup
, Fia established himself as a starter at prop for Manawatu, and scored his first provincial try. In the 2011 ITM Cup
, he was a key part of a vastly improved Turbos squad, and his consistently strong performances earned him a Super Rugby contract for 2012.
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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...
prop who currently plays provincial rugby for Manawatu
Manawatu Rugby Union
Manawatu Rugby Union is the governing body of the sport of Rugby union in the Manawatu rugby province. The Union is based in the city of Palmerston North but has a catchment area from nearby towns in the province, including Feilding, Rongotea, Linton, Bulls, Pahiatua, Dannevirke and...
in the ITM Cup and the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition.
Provincial Rugby
Born in TongaTonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
but trained in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Fia had a stellar year in 2009 as he broke into the Manawatu
Manawatu Rugby Union
Manawatu Rugby Union is the governing body of the sport of Rugby union in the Manawatu rugby province. The Union is based in the city of Palmerston North but has a catchment area from nearby towns in the province, including Feilding, Rongotea, Linton, Bulls, Pahiatua, Dannevirke and...
provincial squad for the Air New Zealand Cup
Air New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
competition and helped New Zealand to the IRB World Under-20 title. As a result, he was named Manawatu's Outstanding Junior Sportsperson for 2009.
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...
, Fia established himself as a starter at prop for Manawatu, and scored his first provincial try. In the 2011 ITM Cup
2011 ITM Cup
The 2011 ITM Cup is the 35th provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand, the sixth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the second under the new sponsor of ITM ....
, he was a key part of a vastly improved Turbos squad, and his consistently strong performances earned him a Super Rugby contract for 2012.
Super Rugby
Fia signed with the Highlanders for the 2012 Super Rugby season2012 Super Rugby season
The 2012 Super Rugby season is the second season of the new 15-team format for the Super Rugby competition, which involves teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Including its past incarnations as Super 12 and Super 14, this is the 17th season for the Southern Hemisphere's premier...
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