Siate Tokolahi

Siate Tokolahi (born 16 March 1992) is a Tongan rugby union player who currently plays as a prop for Canterbury in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Highlanders in the international Super Rugby competition.[1][2][3][4][5]

Siate Tokolahi
Full nameSiate Folau Tokolahi
Date of birth (1992-03-16) 16 March 1992
Place of birthNukualofa, Tonga
Height184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight116 kg (256 lb; 18 st 4 lb)
SchoolSt. Bede's College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team Highlanders, Southland
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2019 Canterbury 54 (0)
2015–2016 Chiefs 28 (0)
2017– Highlanders 53 (15)
2020– Southland 0 (0)
Correct as of 5 August 2020

Early career

Born in Tonga, Tokolahi showed promise to become a top rugby player from an early age and was brought to New Zealand on a Sean Fitzpatrick scholarship to attend Sacred Heart College in Auckland. However, in 2009 aged 17 Tokolahi switched to St. Bede's College in Christchurch which made him eligible to play for Canterbury's youth sides. The move sparked controversy at the time and saw allegations of poaching leveled at the Canterbury Rugby Union. After graduating high-school, Tokolahi played for Canterbury's academy in 2012 and the Crusaders Knights development squad in 2013 while playing local club rugby for Sydenham.[6][5]

Senior career

Tokolahi first made the Canterbury squad aged 22 in 2014, debuting in a 48-9 victory over perennial rivals Auckland in week 1 of the season. His ability to play in both the loosehead and tighthead prop positions saw him earn plenty of game time during his first year of provincial rugby and he ended up making 7 appearances, 2 starts and 5 from the bench as his side reached the ITM Cup semi-finals before losing out to Tasman.

2015 saw Canterbury back to winning ways, lifting the ITM Cup Premiership title after a 25-23 defeat of Auckland in Christchurch. Tokokahi was a key squad member, playing in 11 of the Cantabrians 12 games through the year with the majority of these appearances coming from the replacements bench as a result of stiff competition from the province's other front row forwards; Joe Moody, Nepo Laulala, Daniel Lienert-Brown and Alex Hodgman. However, in 2016, Tokolahi finally nailed down a regular spot in Canterbury's starting XV, starting 11 of the red and blacks 12 games during the year as they went on to retain their Mitre 10 Cup Premiership crown with a comprehensive 43-27 win over Tasman which secured their 8th domestic title in 9 years.[1]

Super Rugby

After just one season and seven games for Canterbury at domestic level, Tokolahi was named in the Hamilton-based Chiefs Super Rugby squad ahead of the 2015 season.[7][8] He played every game during his first year in Hamilton as his team reached the tournament quarter-finals before losing out to New Zealand rivals, the Highlanders. Throughout 2015 Tokolahi largely played the role of second-half replacement, starting only 5 of 17 games and this was a trend that continued through 2016. Faced with fierce competition in the shape of; Mitchell Graham, Kane Hames, Hiroshi Yamashita and Atu Moli, Tokolahi could only manage 3 starts to complement 8 substitute appearances as the Chiefs got as far as the Super Rugby semi-finals before being knocked out by eventual champions, the Hurricanes.[1]

Searching for a more regular starting role at Super Rugby level, Tokolahi switched franchises ahead of the 2017 Super Rugby season, leaving the Chiefs in favour of the Dunedin-based Highlanders, tournament winners in 2015, who were seeking front-row replacements for the departed Josh Hohneck and the injured Brendon Edmonds.[3][9]

Career Honours

Canterbury

Super Rugby Statistics
As of 8 January 2017[1]
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
2015 Chiefs175125460000000
2016 Chiefs11383580000000
Total288209040000000
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References
  1. "Siate Tokolahi itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  2. "Siate Tokolahi ESPN Scrum Player Profile". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  3. "Siate Tokolahi Highlanders Player Profile". Highlanders Rugby. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  4. "Highlanders 2017 Squad Guide" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  5. "Siate Tokolahi Canterbury Player Profile". Canterbury Rugby. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  6. "Tapping into young talent key for Canterbury". Rugby Heaven. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  7. "Chiefs sign more new players". Chiefs Rugby. 15 October 2014. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  8. "Chiefs add two forwards to Super Rugby squad". Rugby Heaven. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  9. "Australian prop Guy Millar to join Highlanders for the 2017 Super Rugby season". Rugby Heaven. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
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