Maama Molitika
Encyclopedia
Maama Molitika is a Tonga
n rugby union
footballer. He is 6'5" . He has played numerous times for the national Tongan team
, making his debut in June 1997 against Fiji
. He was also in the Pacific Islanders rugby union team
squad that toured Europe in 2006. He plays as a blind-side flanker.
In 2002–03 he was Bridgend's joint top try
scorer of the season, and was a part of the team that went onto win the Welsh Premiership for the first time in the club's history. Following the regionalisation of Welsh rugby in 2003–04, he joined the now defunct Celtic Warriors
, and played the one season that the region existed for, including playing for them in the Heineken Cup
. After the Warriors were dissolved at the end of the 2003–04 season, he signed to play for Harlequin F.C.
in the English premiership. He then moved to Welsh region the Cardiff Blues
.
In 2006 he went to Japan and played for Japanese team IBM Big Blue.
However, it was announced in 2007 that he would be returning to the Cardiff Blues to cover for players that will be absent due to Wales' World Cup campaign, as well as covering for any injured players.
On his return to the Cardiff Blues, Molitika dispelled previous concerns that his standard of play would have decreased from a year in the less-competitive Japanese League, with some outstanding performances for the Blues. Molitika has established himself as the Blues' first-choice no 6 with his effective ball-carrying and his tireless work-rate winning much praise from coaches and fans alike.
Maama also has a cousin, Haloti Molitika, who is currently playing for Worcester Rugby Club's Academy side.
Maama also coaches local rugby Team Sully Sports Rfc who play in the WRU Div 7 league.
Tonga
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...
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...
footballer. He is 6'5" . He has played numerous times for the national Tongan 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...
, making his debut in June 1997 against Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
. He was also in the Pacific Islanders rugby union team
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...
squad that toured Europe in 2006. He plays as a blind-side flanker.
In 2002–03 he was Bridgend's joint top try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
scorer of the season, and was a part of the team that went onto win the Welsh Premiership for the first time in the club's history. Following the regionalisation of Welsh rugby in 2003–04, he joined the now defunct Celtic Warriors
Celtic Warriors
The Celtic Warriors were a regional rugby union team from Wales, who played in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup between 2003 and 2004.-History:The Warriors were one of the five original regions of the Welsh Regional Rugby Era...
, and played the one season that the region existed for, including playing for them in the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
. After the Warriors were dissolved at the end of the 2003–04 season, he signed to play for Harlequin F.C.
Harlequin 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...
in the English premiership. He then moved to Welsh region the Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
.
In 2006 he went to Japan and played for Japanese team IBM Big Blue.
However, it was announced in 2007 that he would be returning to the Cardiff Blues to cover for players that will be absent due to Wales' World Cup campaign, as well as covering for any injured players.
On his return to the Cardiff Blues, Molitika dispelled previous concerns that his standard of play would have decreased from a year in the less-competitive Japanese League, with some outstanding performances for the Blues. Molitika has established himself as the Blues' first-choice no 6 with his effective ball-carrying and his tireless work-rate winning much praise from coaches and fans alike.
Maama also has a cousin, Haloti Molitika, who is currently playing for Worcester Rugby Club's Academy side.
Maama also coaches local rugby Team Sully Sports Rfc who play in the WRU Div 7 league.