Tahiti national rugby union team

The Tahiti national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union team, representing the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. They first played in 1971 and have played just 12 games to date, four against the Cook Islands and three against Niue. Other games have been played against Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. France played a match against Tahiti at the end of their 1979 tour and won 92-12.[1] Plans to have annual "test" match series against Pacific island neighbours, New Caledonia have been put on hold, due to time, availability, finances, and coaching and refereeing resources. They have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Tahiti is administered by the Fédération Tahitienne de Rugby de Polynésie Française. Currently, players who have represented or played for the Tahiti national rugby team, are eligible to represent France. However, playing at a professional level can only enable this. At present there are several Tahitian professional rugby players abroad in France’s Top 14 and Pro D2 professional competition.

Tahiti

Union	Fédération Tahitienne de Rugby de Polynésie Française
Head coach	Romi Ropati
Captain	Tunui Anania
First colours
First international
Tahiti 0–3 Wallis and Futuna (1 September 1971)
Biggest win
Tahiti 41–6 Niue (16 June 2001)
Biggest defeat
Cook Islands 86–0 Tahiti
Medal record International medals Pacific Games 1995 Papeete 1971 Papeete 1987 Noumea Pacific Mini Games 1985 Rarotonga

Overall

Tahiti are currently ranked 85th on the World Rugby Rankings table.[2]

World Cup

World Cup record
Year	Round	P	W	D	L	F	A
1987	Not invited
1991	Did not qualify
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011	Did not participate
2015	Did not qualify
2019	Did not qualify
2023	To be determined
Total	0/9	–	–	–	–	–	–

Squad

Squad to 2017 Oceania Rugby Cup:[3]

Forwards Tunui Anania (C) Angus Charles David Lahille Taitearii Mahuru Torea Morou Manuarii Richmond Martin Taeae Loic Tautu Léhi Tematafaarere Haley Teuira Patrick Tevero Brandon Tihata Andrew Vanaa

Backs Guillaume Brouqui Ganaham Huuti Andoni Jimenez Cedric Martin Tamahao Opeta Vincent Perez Mathieu Taulelle Jean Tautu James Tekurio Teariki Wong Sung

Notable players

Player	Notability
Timi Frogier
Richard Mapuhi	Played for French Club Pau in Pro D2 (49 caps, 1990-1994)
Tauirai Bessert
Apolosi Foliaki
Tihoti Tamarono

Vakatini Atuahiva (JJ) Played for Counties Manukau Steeelers NZ 1982, 1991 - 1995: Manawatu 1984 - 1990 NZ:, NZ All Black Colts 1982 & 1984:

NZ Divisional XV 1993: NZ Maori All Black 1994: Cook Island 7s and XV

Guest players

These players were capped for Tahiti in an invitational match against France to celebrate Bastille Day in Papeete on 14 July 1981:

• Enrique Rodríguez (dual international for Argentina & Australia)[4]
• Brett Codlin (All Blacks, 1980)
• Robert Kururangi (All Blacks, 1978 & Māori All Blacks, 1982)
• Tim Twigden (All Blacks, 1979–80)

See also

• Rugby union in Tahiti

References

1. • Vivian Jenkins, ed. (1980). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1980-81. Queen Anne Press. p. 38. ISBN 0-362-02018-3.
2. World Rugby.org (20 April 2015). "World Rugby Rankings". Retrieved 22 April 2015.
3. http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/matches/match=14273/index.html
4. Irene Watt (2 April 2012). "Enrique TOPO Rodríguez talks rugby". Retrieved 22 April 2015.