Tasesa Lavea
Encyclopedia
Tasesa James Lavea is a New Zealand rugby union
footballer of Samoan descent and heritage, who currently plays for English club Sale Sharks
.
from 2004 to 2006, and played both first five-eighths and second five-eighths (inside centre) for the Chiefs
in the 2007 and 2008 seasons. In 2009 he rejoined the Blues
At provincial level, Lavea has played fly-half for Auckland
in the Air New Zealand Cup
(known pre-2006 as the NPC
) since 2003, and will join Counties Manukau
from 2008. His current contract with the NZRU runs through to 2009.
He played for French Top 14 team ASM Clermont Auvergne
from 2009–2010 on for two seasons.
, New Zealand
, and attended Papatoetoe High School
, then St Kentigern College
where he played for three seasons in the First XV. He was an age-group representative between the ages of 14 and 16, and played for both the Auckland and New Zealand Secondary Schools teams in 1998. He also excelled in cricket
.
(New Zealand A) and was then scouted by Melbourne Storm
(despite never having played rugby league until the signing), switching codes to play in Australia
. Thanks to his prodigious goal-kicking skills, in 2000 he was the club's leading points scorer (190 points) and was named the NRL
Rookie of the Year.
After a quieter second season, in 2002 Lavea left Melbourne for the Northern Eagles
but was hampered by injury and hardly featured in the team.
squad. Between 2000 and 2001, he played 4 test matches for the Kiwis
in his usual rugby league position of stand-off. In the match against Cook Islands
on 2 November 2000, Lavea's haul of 32 points (2 tries and 12 goals) broke the previous Kiwi record of 26 points (set by Henry Paul
).
. His NPC debut was in that year, against Waikato
. He then made his Blues debut in 2004 against the Reds
and was part of the Blues for three seasons. In 2007 Lavea joined the Chiefs
through the player draft, with whom he played two seasons, and in 2008 moved provinces from Auckland to Counties
. In 2009 he returned to the Blues, however he made only four more appearances for the side in his final season of Super Rugby. He played a final season for Counties in the Air New Zealand Cup
before moving to France.
season in 2006, Lavea was named in the New Zealand Māori rugby union team
. Due to an injury sustained in club rugby, he had to withdraw from the team before the Churchill Cup
tournament even began. The New Zealand Māori went on to take the title.
's principal fly-half as the province prepared to defend its title.
Round One
During Auckland's opening Air New Zealand Cup
match against Manawatu
(Saturday 29 July 2006), nearly all players suffered sand burns from the appalling ground conditions at FMG Stadium
, Palmerston North
. It played a part in Lavea's first-half hamstring injury, thereby ruling him out of the playing 22 for Auckland's games against Tasman
(Sunday 6 August 2006), Taranaki
(Saturday 12 August 2006), and Bay of Plenty
(Sunday 20 August 2006).
Lavea recovered to play the full 80 minutes for both the games against Wellington
(Saturday 26 August 2006) and North Harbour
(Friday 1 September 2006). In the "Battle of the Bridge" (Auckland vs North Harbour) Lavea performed admirably, kicking well to gain territory and making several significant runs.
Round Two
Lavea missed Auckland's first match in Round Two against Waikato
(Saturday 16 September 2006) due to a calf injury.
Recovering from the minor injury in time to be named in the starting 15 for the match against Otago
(Saturday 23 September 2006), Lavea controlled the game expertly. He found space with his kicking game, set up an impressive manoeuvre for Isaia Toeava
, and ran in a great solo try off a deft intercept.
The Auckland fly-half also played solidly in the team's last Round Two match, against Canterbury
(Saturday 30 September 2006). Auckland was denied a try in the very last play of the match which saw Lavea crash through the posts after a Doug Howlett
offload. Controversially, referee Steve Walsh
ruled that the pass was forward. Had Auckland been awarded that try, the result would have been a 27–27 draw, or a 29–27 win to Auckland if the conversion was successful. Both situations would have given Auckland the position of top seed going into the playoffs.
Quarter-finals
Auckland defeated Bay of Plenty
for the second time this season in their quarter-final match-up on Saturday 7 October 2006. Lavea received a yellow card for a spear tackle
at the start of the final quarter, but played the remainder of the match.
Semi-finals
Wellington
defeated Auckland in the first 2006 Air New Zealand Cup
semi-final on Friday 13 October 2006. Auckland's set-piece and handling errors meant Lavea could not get enough quality ball to capitalise on his team's expansive style of attack.
rugby union
team (representing Samoa
) to tour the United Kingdom
and Ireland
in November 2006.
Although being named in the Pacific Islanders squad did not disqualify Lavea from playing for the All Blacks
, the appearance of his name in the squad signified his possible allegiance to Manu Samoa
in the future. At the time, Lavea stated that he felt it was time for him to take control of the future of his rugby career, and that opportunities lay with playing for the Pacific Islanders. If Lavea plays a test match for Manu Samoa, by IRB
regulations he will become ineligible to play for the All Blacks.
In a further development, it is understood that Lavea's contract with the NZRU stipulates his availability for All Blacks selection. Even though recent All Blacks Sitiveni Sivivatu
and Sione Lauaki
both played for the Pacific Islanders and went on to get the black jersey, new PIRA
rules seem to suggest that players can only be included in the Pacific Islanders squad if they declare allegiance to their respective Pacific Island national team (Fiji, Samoa or Tonga).
While the possibility of playing for Samoa in the 2007 Rugby World Cup
would be of great appeal to Lavea, declaring himself unavailable for All Blacks selection could be detrimental to his rugby career in New Zealand (because a player that is not NZ-eligible is of less value to the NZRU). At the time Lavea did not comment on whether this would affect his decision to tour.
When the Pacific Islanders squad left for the UK on 2 November 2006, Lavea was not part of the squad. He withdrew from the team because Ian Foster, head coach of the Chiefs
, requested for him to stay in New Zealand for pre-season training. Harbour
fly-half Tusi Pisi
was called in as Lavea's replacement in the touring squad, but Pisi's inclusion is understood not to have disqualified him for future All Blacks selection.
, at the conclusion of which he will begin a new 2-year contract with Counties Manukau
. Since that places him in the Chiefs
catchment area, he is directly eligible to play for them in the 2008 Super 14.
In early July 2007, Lavea travelled to Thailand
for Auckland's pre-season training camp. However, due to an untimely hip flexor
injury, he did not play until Week 9 of the 2007 Air NZ Cup season.
Week 9
Lavea played first five in Auckland's match against Otago
on Friday 21 September 2007.
fullback Brent Ward
and Harbour
wing Viliame Waqaseduadua
. The neighbouring Chiefs
were glad to pick up Lavea for the coming season.
Chiefs head coach Ian Foster indicated the possibility of developing Lavea and Stephen Donald
's roles in the team to create a 10/12 combination. Lavea was also enthusiastic about playing for a new team.
Pre-season
The Chiefs won 31–17 against the Hurricanes
on Thursday 18 January 2007. Lavea was not initially named for this match because of a minor calf strain, but made a quick recovery and saw some game time in the second half.
Week 1
The first match of the Chiefs' 2007 Super 14 campaign was a home game against the Brumbies
(Saturday 3 February 2007). Starting on the bench at No.21, Lavea substituted on at second five-eighths for Tane Tu'ipulotu in the final quarter.
Unfortunately, Lavea also injured his left knee in his Chiefs debut. MRI revealed a strained medial collateral ligament
that was thought would keep him sidelined for at least six weeks.
Week 7
Lavea recovered from the knee injury after five weeks and resumed full contact training with the team during the build-up to the Chiefs' week 7 clash with the Lions (Friday 16 March 2007). He started the match at second five-eighths and shifted to first five-eighths for the final quarter. The Donald-Lavea five-eighth combination proved to be effective, with the former scoring a brace of tries in the Chiefs' 34 – 7 victory. Stephen Donald stated that having Lavea at second five-eighths allowed him to "have a crack", knowing that the next phase would be covered. Lavea made good use of tactical kicking throughout the match.
This was Lavea's first starting position with the Chiefs.
Week 8
Lavea remained at second five-eighths for the entire match against the Reds
(Saturday 24 March 2007), which the Chiefs narrowly won 21 – 19. This victory has kept the Chiefs' semifinal hopes alive.
Week 9
The Chiefs played against the Blues on Saturday 31 March 2007. Lavea played at second five-eighths opposite old teammates Luke McAlister
and Sam Tuitupou
. Halfway through the first quarter, Lavea appeared to have aggravated his knee injury from Week 1. Ten minutes later he bounced back to score the Chiefs' only try of the match – his first try for the new team. However, the strain on his knee ruled out his selection for the Highlanders
match in Queenstown
on Saturday 7 April 2007.
Week 11
In the Chiefs' 64 – 36 win against the Force
(Saturday 14 April 2007), Lavea scored a try ten minutes into the second half from a Sitiveni Sivivatu
offload. This bonus point win puts the Chiefs ahead of the Force in the race for a semifinal spot.
Week 12
The Chiefs defeated the Sharks 35 – 27 in their final round robin home game of the 2007 Super 14 (Saturday 21 April 2007). Lavea played both inside center and fly-half, scoring two tries in the first half of the match.
Week 13
Lavea was substituted after the first quarter of the away match against the Waratahs
(Friday 27 April 2007) due to a foot injury. He suffered Achilles tendinopathy and a hematoma on his chest, missing the match against the Crusaders in the final week of round robin matchplay.
. He was called by Samoa national team
for the first time in November 2010.
7)
Super Rugby Points: 50 (7 tries, 3 conversions, 3 penalties)
Blues: 30 (3 tries, 3 conversions, 3 penalties)
Chiefs
: 20 (4 tries)
Blues Debut: 2004 vs Reds
Chiefs
Debut: 2007 vs Brumbies
Provincial Caps: 35
Provincial Points: 35 (7 tries)
Auckland
Debut: 2003 vs Waikato
Rugby League Test Caps: 4
Rugby League Test Points: 48 (3 tries, 18 goals)
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 of Samoan descent and heritage, who currently plays for English club Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
.
Career
He played first five-eighths (fly-half) for the Blues in Super RugbySuper 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
from 2004 to 2006, and played both first five-eighths and second five-eighths (inside centre) for the Chiefs
Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)
The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
in the 2007 and 2008 seasons. In 2009 he rejoined the Blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
At provincial level, Lavea has played fly-half for Auckland
Auckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
in 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...
(known pre-2006 as the NPC
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
) since 2003, and will join Counties Manukau
Counties Manukau Rugby Union
The Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Franklin district of New Zealand. The Steelers colours are red, white, and black horizontal bands. The 'Steelers' moniker is a reference to the nearby Glenbrook steel factory...
from 2008. His current contract with the NZRU runs through to 2009.
He played for French Top 14 team ASM Clermont Auvergne
ASM Clermont Auvergne
Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club...
from 2009–2010 on for two seasons.
Early life
Lavea grew up in AucklandAuckland
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
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...
, and attended Papatoetoe High School
Papatoetoe High School
Papatoetoe High School is a secondary school in Papatoetoe suburb of Manukau city, Auckland Region, New Zealand.PHS hosts a satellite unit of the Kelston Deaf Education Centre, including a full-time educational interpreter....
, then St Kentigern College
Saint Kentigern College
Saint Kentigern College is a private, co-educational Presbyterian secondary school in the Pakuranga suburb of Manukau City in the Auckland region of New Zealand, beside the estuary of the Tamaki Estuary...
where he played for three seasons in the First XV. He was an age-group representative between the ages of 14 and 16, and played for both the Auckland and New Zealand Secondary Schools teams in 1998. He also excelled in cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
.
Switch to Rugby League
Following secondary school, Lavea played for the Junior All BlacksJunior All Blacks
The Junior All Blacks are a New Zealand rugby union team. The Junior All Blacks are not an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby union team....
(New Zealand A) and was then scouted by Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
(despite never having played rugby league until the signing), switching codes to play in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Thanks to his prodigious goal-kicking skills, in 2000 he was the club's leading points scorer (190 points) and was named the NRL
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...
Rookie of the Year.
After a quieter second season, in 2002 Lavea left Melbourne for the Northern Eagles
Northern Eagles
The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team, that competed in the National Rugby League between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2000...
but was hampered by injury and hardly featured in the team.
Test Matches and Rugby League World Cup
Lavea was a member of New Zealand's 2000 World Cup2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
squad. Between 2000 and 2001, he played 4 test matches for the Kiwis
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in his usual rugby league position of stand-off. In the match against Cook Islands
Cook Islands national rugby league team
-2008 World Cup Qualifying:See 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifyingThe Cook Islands played Fiji, Tonga and Samoa in the Pacific pool of Qualifying for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Fiji and Tonga qualified, and Samoa earned a second chance in the repecharge round...
on 2 November 2000, Lavea's haul of 32 points (2 tries and 12 goals) broke the previous Kiwi record of 26 points (set by Henry Paul
Henry Paul
Henry Paul , is a dual code rugby international. Paul has previously represented New Zealand in rugby league and England in rugby union XV's and 7's. He currently holds the world record for the most consecutive kicks on the field.Paul's usual position is loose forward/Lock. He can also operate in...
).
Return to Rugby Union
Lavea returned to New Zealand in 2003 and switched codes once again to play rugby union, signing with AucklandAuckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
. His NPC debut was in that year, against Waikato
Waikato Rugby Union
The Waikato Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the Waikato area in the North Island of New Zealand. Its senior representative team competes in the ITM Cup , and won the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006.Waikato Rugby Union was founded in 1921...
. He then made his Blues debut in 2004 against the Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
and was part of the Blues for three seasons. In 2007 Lavea joined the Chiefs
Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)
The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
through the player draft, with whom he played two seasons, and in 2008 moved provinces from Auckland to Counties
Counties Manukau Rugby Union
The Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Franklin district of New Zealand. The Steelers colours are red, white, and black horizontal bands. The 'Steelers' moniker is a reference to the nearby Glenbrook steel factory...
. In 2009 he returned to the Blues, however he made only four more appearances for the side in his final season of Super Rugby. He played a final season for Counties in 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...
before moving to France.
2006 Rugby Season
Following a mixed Super 14Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
season in 2006, Lavea was named in the New Zealand Māori rugby union team
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
. Due to an injury sustained in club rugby, he had to withdraw from the team before the Churchill Cup
Churchill Cup
The Churchill Cup was an annual rugby union tournament, held in June, contested by representative men's teams from Canada, England, the United States, and other invited teams from a wide array of countries....
tournament even began. The New Zealand Māori went on to take the title.
Air New Zealand Cup
Lavea was again selected as AucklandAuckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
's principal fly-half as the province prepared to defend its title.
Round One
During Auckland's opening Air New Zealand Cup
2006 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2006 Air New Zealand Cup is a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Friday 28 July 2006, and the Grand Final was won by Waikato on 21 October 2006....
match against 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...
(Saturday 29 July 2006), nearly all players suffered sand burns from the appalling ground conditions at FMG Stadium
Arena Manawatu
Arena Manawatu is the current name of the 180,000 square metre publicly owned recreational complex just west of the Palmerston North city centre in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand.It has three linked indoor stadiums, with movable tiered seating...
, Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
. It played a part in Lavea's first-half hamstring injury, thereby ruling him out of the playing 22 for Auckland's games against Tasman
Tasman Rugby Union
The Tasman Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union at the top of the South Island in New Zealand. It is New Zealand's newest provincial union, founded in 2006 with the amalgamation of the existing Marlborough and Nelson Bays sub unions...
(Sunday 6 August 2006), Taranaki
Taranaki Rugby Union
Taranaki Rugby Football Union is the governing body of Rugby in the New Zealand province of Taranaki. The main stadium is Yarrow Stadium which is in the main centre of New Plymouth. Taranaki plays in the annual ITM Cup in which it also competes for the Ranfurly shield...
(Saturday 12 August 2006), and Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty Rugby Union
The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union is the official governing body for rugby union in the Bay of Plenty, in the North-East of the North Island...
(Sunday 20 August 2006).
Lavea recovered to play the full 80 minutes for both the games against Wellington
Wellington Rugby Football Union
The Wellington Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the city of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand...
(Saturday 26 August 2006) and North Harbour
North Harbour Rugby Union
The North Harbour Rugby Union , commonly referred to colloquially as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is a provincial rugby team which competes in the ITM Cup , the successor to the country's former domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship .-Area:Harbour Rugby encompasses a...
(Friday 1 September 2006). In the "Battle of the Bridge" (Auckland vs North Harbour) Lavea performed admirably, kicking well to gain territory and making several significant runs.
Round Two
Lavea missed Auckland's first match in Round Two against Waikato
Waikato Rugby Union
The Waikato Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the Waikato area in the North Island of New Zealand. Its senior representative team competes in the ITM Cup , and won the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006.Waikato Rugby Union was founded in 1921...
(Saturday 16 September 2006) due to a calf injury.
Recovering from the minor injury in time to be named in the starting 15 for the match against Otago
Otago Rugby Football Union
The Otago Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union for the Otago Region of New Zealand. The union is based in the city of Dunedin, and its home ground is Forsyth Barr Stadium. The top representative team competes in the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial...
(Saturday 23 September 2006), Lavea controlled the game expertly. He found space with his kicking game, set up an impressive manoeuvre for Isaia Toeava
Isaia Toeava
Isaia "Ice" Toeava , is a professional rugby union player in New Zealand.-Early career:Toeava attended De La Salle College, Mangere East, he played alongside Taniela Moa in the school's First XV rugby team. He represented New Zealand U-19 where he was named the IRB's Under-19 2005 player of the year...
, and ran in a great solo try off a deft intercept.
The Auckland fly-half also played solidly in the team's last Round Two match, against Canterbury
Canterbury Rugby Football Union
The Canterbury Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the Canterbury region, in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand...
(Saturday 30 September 2006). Auckland was denied a try in the very last play of the match which saw Lavea crash through the posts after a Doug Howlett
Doug Howlett
Douglas Charles Howlett is a professional New Zealand rugby union player of Tongan descent. He is primarily a wing but he has also covered fullback at national and international levels. He currently plays in Ireland with Munster. He is the brother of former Tongan rugby league international Phil...
offload. Controversially, referee Steve Walsh
Steve Walsh (rugby)
Steve Walsh is a professional rugby union referee from New Zealand.Walsh's rugby playing career ended at age 13, due to a spinal injury resulting from a birth deformity and he began refereeing at the age of 16....
ruled that the pass was forward. Had Auckland been awarded that try, the result would have been a 27–27 draw, or a 29–27 win to Auckland if the conversion was successful. Both situations would have given Auckland the position of top seed going into the playoffs.
Quarter-finals
Auckland defeated Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty Rugby Union
The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union is the official governing body for rugby union in the Bay of Plenty, in the North-East of the North Island...
for the second time this season in their quarter-final match-up on Saturday 7 October 2006. Lavea received a yellow card for a spear tackle
Spear tackle
A spear tackle is a dangerous tackle in rugby union, rugby league and Australian rules football whereby a player lifts another player into the air and dumps or drops them upside down...
at the start of the final quarter, but played the remainder of the match.
Semi-finals
Wellington
Wellington Rugby Football Union
The Wellington Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the city of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand...
defeated Auckland in the first 2006 Air New Zealand Cup
2006 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2006 Air New Zealand Cup is a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Friday 28 July 2006, and the Grand Final was won by Waikato on 21 October 2006....
semi-final on Friday 13 October 2006. Auckland's set-piece and handling errors meant Lavea could not get enough quality ball to capitalise on his team's expansive style of attack.
The Pacific Islanders Squad
In September 2006, Lavea was named in the Pacific IslandersPacific 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...
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...
team (representing 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...
) to tour the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in November 2006.
Although being named in the Pacific Islanders squad did not disqualify Lavea from playing for the All Blacks
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....
, the appearance of his name in the squad signified his possible allegiance to Manu 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 the future. At the time, Lavea stated that he felt it was time for him to take control of the future of his rugby career, and that opportunities lay with playing for the Pacific Islanders. If Lavea plays a test match for Manu Samoa, by IRB
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
regulations he will become ineligible to play for the All Blacks.
In a further development, it is understood that Lavea's contract with the NZRU stipulates his availability for All Blacks selection. Even though recent All Blacks Sitiveni Sivivatu
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Sitiveni Waica Sivivatu is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, playing on the position of a wing. He was largely successful in the 2005 Super 12 season playing for the Chiefs, and acquired a starting position in the All Blacks. He has scored 29 tries in 45 tests...
and Sione Lauaki
Sione Lauaki
Sione Tuitupu Lauaki is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. His brother, Epalahame Lauaki, is a 2nd rower for Hull in the Super League competition and also a New Zealand international.-Early career:...
both played for the Pacific Islanders and went on to get the black jersey, new PIRA
Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance
The Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance was set up in 2002 as a basis of co-operation between the Fiji, Samoa and Tonga Rugby Unions. Niue and the Cook Islands are also members of the Alliance, and while not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they can and do supply members to the Pacific...
rules seem to suggest that players can only be included in the Pacific Islanders squad if they declare allegiance to their respective Pacific Island national team (Fiji, Samoa or Tonga).
While the possibility of playing for Samoa in the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
would be of great appeal to Lavea, declaring himself unavailable for All Blacks selection could be detrimental to his rugby career in New Zealand (because a player that is not NZ-eligible is of less value to the NZRU). At the time Lavea did not comment on whether this would affect his decision to tour.
When the Pacific Islanders squad left for the UK on 2 November 2006, Lavea was not part of the squad. He withdrew from the team because Ian Foster, head coach of the Chiefs
Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)
The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
, requested for him to stay in New Zealand for pre-season training. Harbour
North Harbour Rugby Union
The North Harbour Rugby Union , commonly referred to colloquially as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is a provincial rugby team which competes in the ITM Cup , the successor to the country's former domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship .-Area:Harbour Rugby encompasses a...
fly-half Tusi Pisi
Tusi Pisi
Tusi Pisi is a rugby union player who played for North Harbour in the Air New Zealand Cup. His position is fly half, but he has also played at centre and full back...
was called in as Lavea's replacement in the touring squad, but Pisi's inclusion is understood not to have disqualified him for future All Blacks selection.
Air New Zealand Cup
Lavea's present contract with Auckland will end on 31 October 2007. He is currently playing for Auckland in the 2007 Air NZ Cup2007 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2007 Air New Zealand Cup was a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Thursday 26 July 2007, and the Final, in which Auckland defeated Wellington, was held on Saturday 20 October....
, at the conclusion of which he will begin a new 2-year contract with Counties Manukau
Counties Manukau Rugby Union
The Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Franklin district of New Zealand. The Steelers colours are red, white, and black horizontal bands. The 'Steelers' moniker is a reference to the nearby Glenbrook steel factory...
. Since that places him in the Chiefs
Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)
The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
catchment area, he is directly eligible to play for them in the 2008 Super 14.
In early July 2007, Lavea travelled to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
for Auckland's pre-season training camp. However, due to an untimely hip flexor
Hip flexors
In human anatomy, the hip flexors are a group of skeletal muscles that act to flex the femur onto the lumbo-pelvic complex, i.e., pull the knee upward....
injury, he did not play until Week 9 of the 2007 Air NZ Cup season.
Week 9
Lavea played first five in Auckland's match against Otago
Otago Rugby Football Union
The Otago Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union for the Otago Region of New Zealand. The union is based in the city of Dunedin, and its home ground is Forsyth Barr Stadium. The top representative team competes in the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial...
on Friday 21 September 2007.
Super 14
During the selection process for New Zealand's 2007 Super 14 teams, the Blues made Lavea available in the player draft, along with AucklandAuckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
fullback Brent Ward
Brent Ward
Brent Ward is a New Zealand-born rugby union player. A product of Auckland Grammar School and the Auckland University club, he plays for Auckland in the ITM Cup, making his debut in 2002 against Southland...
and Harbour
North Harbour Rugby Union
The North Harbour Rugby Union , commonly referred to colloquially as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is a provincial rugby team which competes in the ITM Cup , the successor to the country's former domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship .-Area:Harbour Rugby encompasses a...
wing Viliame Waqaseduadua
Viliame Waqaseduadua
Viliame Waqaseduadua is a New Zealand rugby union player, usually as a wing. He plays for the CA Brive. He is simply known as Vili, or Waga....
. The neighbouring Chiefs
Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)
The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
were glad to pick up Lavea for the coming season.
Chiefs head coach Ian Foster indicated the possibility of developing Lavea and Stephen Donald
Stephen Donald
Stephen Donald is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays at First five-eighth or Second five-eighth. Despite an international career that had not lived up to expectations, Donald, aka 'The Beaver', kicked the winning penalty in the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 for New Zealand...
's roles in the team to create a 10/12 combination. Lavea was also enthusiastic about playing for a new team.
Pre-season
The Chiefs won 31–17 against the Hurricanes
Hurricanes (Super rugby franchise)
The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition...
on Thursday 18 January 2007. Lavea was not initially named for this match because of a minor calf strain, but made a quick recovery and saw some game time in the second half.
Week 1
The first match of the Chiefs' 2007 Super 14 campaign was a home game against the Brumbies
Brumbies Rugby
The Brumbies are a Super 15 rugby union team based in Canberra, Australia and named for the wild horses which inhabit Canberra's hinterland...
(Saturday 3 February 2007). Starting on the bench at No.21, Lavea substituted on at second five-eighths for Tane Tu'ipulotu in the final quarter.
Unfortunately, Lavea also injured his left knee in his Chiefs debut. MRI revealed a strained medial collateral ligament
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
that was thought would keep him sidelined for at least six weeks.
Week 7
Lavea recovered from the knee injury after five weeks and resumed full contact training with the team during the build-up to the Chiefs' week 7 clash with the Lions (Friday 16 March 2007). He started the match at second five-eighths and shifted to first five-eighths for the final quarter. The Donald-Lavea five-eighth combination proved to be effective, with the former scoring a brace of tries in the Chiefs' 34 – 7 victory. Stephen Donald stated that having Lavea at second five-eighths allowed him to "have a crack", knowing that the next phase would be covered. Lavea made good use of tactical kicking throughout the match.
This was Lavea's first starting position with the Chiefs.
Week 8
Lavea remained at second five-eighths for the entire match against the Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
(Saturday 24 March 2007), which the Chiefs narrowly won 21 – 19. This victory has kept the Chiefs' semifinal hopes alive.
Week 9
The Chiefs played against the Blues on Saturday 31 March 2007. Lavea played at second five-eighths opposite old teammates Luke McAlister
Luke McAlister
Charles Luke McAlister is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays first five-eighths and second five-eighths ....
and Sam Tuitupou
Sam Tuitupou
Sam Tuitupou is a New Zealand international rugby union player who plays for Sale in the Aviva Premiership. His position is Inside Centre....
. Halfway through the first quarter, Lavea appeared to have aggravated his knee injury from Week 1. Ten minutes later he bounced back to score the Chiefs' only try of the match – his first try for the new team. However, the strain on his knee ruled out his selection for the Highlanders
Highlanders (Super rugby franchise)
The Highlanders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Dunedin that compete in Super Rugby. The franchise represents the North Otago, Otago and Southland provincial Rugby unions. The Highlanders take their name from the Scottish immigrants that helped found the Otago, North...
match in Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains....
on Saturday 7 April 2007.
Week 11
In the Chiefs' 64 – 36 win against the Force
Western Force
Western Force is a rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the international Super Rugby competition. They first competed in the 2006 season and finished with the wooden spoon in that year, however their performances greatly improved in 2007. In 2008 they finished in 8th...
(Saturday 14 April 2007), Lavea scored a try ten minutes into the second half from a Sitiveni Sivivatu
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Sitiveni Waica Sivivatu is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, playing on the position of a wing. He was largely successful in the 2005 Super 12 season playing for the Chiefs, and acquired a starting position in the All Blacks. He has scored 29 tries in 45 tests...
offload. This bonus point win puts the Chiefs ahead of the Force in the race for a semifinal spot.
Week 12
The Chiefs defeated the Sharks 35 – 27 in their final round robin home game of the 2007 Super 14 (Saturday 21 April 2007). Lavea played both inside center and fly-half, scoring two tries in the first half of the match.
Week 13
Lavea was substituted after the first quarter of the away match against the Waratahs
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
(Friday 27 April 2007) due to a foot injury. He suffered Achilles tendinopathy and a hematoma on his chest, missing the match against the Crusaders in the final week of round robin matchplay.
From 2009 with Clermont Auvergne
Lavea signed for Clermont Auvergne in 2009. He mostly plays as a second choice at fly-half behind Brock JamesBrock James
Brock James is an Australian rugby union player currently playing for French club ASM Clermont Auvergne....
. He was called by Samoa national team
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...
for the first time in November 2010.
Statistics
Super Rugby Caps: 26 (Blues 19, ChiefsChiefs (Super rugby franchise)
The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
7)
Super Rugby Points: 50 (7 tries, 3 conversions, 3 penalties)
Blues: 30 (3 tries, 3 conversions, 3 penalties)
Chiefs
Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)
The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
: 20 (4 tries)
Blues Debut: 2004 vs Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
Chiefs
Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)
The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
Debut: 2007 vs Brumbies
Brumbies Rugby
The Brumbies are a Super 15 rugby union team based in Canberra, Australia and named for the wild horses which inhabit Canberra's hinterland...
Provincial Caps: 35
Provincial Points: 35 (7 tries)
Auckland
Auckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
Debut: 2003 vs Waikato
Waikato Rugby Union
The Waikato Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the Waikato area in the North Island of New Zealand. Its senior representative team competes in the ITM Cup , and won the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006.Waikato Rugby Union was founded in 1921...
Rugby League Test Caps: 4
Rugby League Test Points: 48 (3 tries, 18 goals)
See also
- 2007 Air New Zealand Cup2007 Air New Zealand CupThe 2007 Air New Zealand Cup was a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Thursday 26 July 2007, and the Final, in which Auckland defeated Wellington, was held on Saturday 20 October....
- Air New Zealand CupAir New Zealand CupThe 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...
- Auckland Rugby Football UnionAuckland Rugby Football UnionThe Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
- 2007 Super 14
- Super 14Super 14Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
- ChiefsChiefs (Super rugby franchise)The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
- BluesBlues (rugby team)Blues are a professional New Zealand rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand which represents the Northland, North Harbour and Auckland unions in the Super Rugby competition. Like New Zealand's four other Super Rugby sides, the Blues were established by the NZRU in 1996...
- Pacific IslandersPacific Islanders rugby union teamThe 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...
- Rugby UnionRugby unionRugby 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...