Uwe Helu

Uwe Helu (Japanese name as Japanese national: ヘルウヴェ or ヘル ウヴェ, born 12 July 1990) is a Tongan-born, Japanese international rugby union player who plays as a lock or flanker.[1] He currently plays for Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Yamaha Júbilo in Japan's domestic Top League.[2][3]He received Japanese Citizenship in 2016.

Uwe Helu

Full name	Tauate Valu Uwe Helu
Date of birth	(1990-07-12) 12 July 1990
Place of birth	Tonga
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	115 kg (18 st 2 lb; 254 lb)
School	St Thomas of Canterbury College
University	Takushoku University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock / Flanker Current team Sunwolves / Yamaha Júbilo Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2014–present Yamaha Júbilo 19 (20) 2017–present Sunwolves 0 (0) Correct as of 15 January 2017 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2016–present Japan 14 (0) Correct as of 15 September 2019

Club career

Helu was born in Tonga, attended St Thomas of Canterbury College in Christchurch, New Zealand and then university in Tokyo, Japan. After graduating from university he signed up to play Top League rugby with Yamaha Júbilo in 2014. His appearances were sparse in his first two seasons with Yamaha, but in 2016 he began to be much more of a regular in the side.[4]

International

After only 13 Top League appearances for Yamaha Júbilo, which included 3 starts, Helu received his first call-up to his adopted country, Japan's senior squad ahead of the 2016 end-of-year rugby union internationals. He debuted as a second half replacement in new head coach, Jamie Joseph's first game, a 54-20 loss at home to Argentina.[1]

References

1. "Uwe Helu ESPN Scrum Player Profile". ESPN. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
2. "Uwe Helu Top League Player Profile" (in Japanese). Top League. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
3. "Uwe Helu Yamaha Jubilo Player Profile" (in Japanese). Yamaha Motors. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
4. "Uwe Helu itsrugby Player Statistics". itsrugby. Retrieved 8 November 2016.