Tani Fuga
Encyclopedia
Tanielu "Tani" Fuga is a Samoa
n rugby union
player. Born in Apia, he was brought up by his grandparents, Iosia and Salavao Fuga and they moved to Auckland
in 1986 for him to study. He attended Waitakere College
in Auckland and played for the Waitemata
club.
He played as hooker and, after playing for Samoa
in 1999, decided to move to the UK as one of his idols, Keith Wood
played there for Harlequins
. Tani joined Quins in 2000 and made his debut as a replacement against London Wasps
on 9 September that year. He scored his first try for the club in the European Challenge Cup
victory over Périgueux
at the Twickenham Stoop on 7 October 2000. He retired from playing after a benefit year organised at Harlequins in 2010 and returned to New Zealand.
He won nine caps for Samoa
and scored a try in his second game against New Zealand
back in June 1999. He was a member of the Samoan squad at the 2007 Rugby World Cup finals.
Fuga opened a branch of Nando's
in Ponsonby Road, Auckland
, New Zealand on 6 September 2011 in anticipation of the 2011 Rugby World 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...
player. Born in Apia, he was brought up by his grandparents, Iosia and Salavao Fuga and they moved to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
in 1986 for him to study. He attended Waitakere College
Waitakere College
Waitakere College is a secondary school located in West Auckland, New Zealand. It caters for students from year 9 to year 13.Students entering the college are allocated into one of three "Houses". The house names use Māori words: Aroha , Manawanui , and Matauranga...
in Auckland and played for the Waitemata
Waitemata
Waitemata can be:*Waitemata Harbour, a large bay in New Zealand*Waitemata City, a local government body on the shores of Waitemata Harbour, now part of Waitakere....
club.
He played as hooker and, after playing for Samoa
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...
in 1999, decided to move to the UK as one of his idols, Keith Wood
Keith Wood
Keith Gerard Mallinson Wood and educated at St Munchin's College, Limerick is a former international rugby union footballer who played hooker for Ireland, the Lions, Garryowen, Harlequins and Munster....
played there for Harlequins
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...
. Tani joined Quins in 2000 and made his debut as a replacement against London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
on 9 September that year. He scored his first try for the club in the European Challenge Cup
European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
victory over Périgueux
Périgueux
Périgueux is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.Périgueux is the prefecture of the department and the capital of the region...
at the Twickenham Stoop on 7 October 2000. He retired from playing after a benefit year organised at Harlequins in 2010 and returned to New Zealand.
He won nine caps for Samoa
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...
and scored a try in his second game against New Zealand
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....
back in June 1999. He was a member of the Samoan squad at the 2007 Rugby World Cup finals.
Fuga opened a branch of Nando's
Nando's
Nando's is a casual dining restaurant group originating from South Africa with a Portuguese/Mozambican theme. Founded in 1987, Nando's operates in thirty countries on five continents....
in Ponsonby Road, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand on 6 September 2011 in anticipation of the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
.