faletau ebbw vale

Toby made a big impression for Wales U20 in 2010 and has since graduated to the senior side where he has been a regular for Wales. Faletau senior was part of the first wave of Pacific Islands players to make their mark in the Welsh game and … Faletau spent his early years in Wales playing for Ebbw Vale RFC and New Panteg RFC juniors alongside Mako and Billy Vunipola until youth level, when he moved to Filton College, Bristol, to experience the English game. I have lived in Wales since I was seven when my dad came over from Tonga to play for Ebbw Vale Toby Faletau “I am Tongan but I never had any contact from Tonga, just Wales. He was first called up to the Wales senior squad on 1 November 2010 following the withdrawal of Ryan Jones and Rob McCusker. Both fathers played rugby for Tonga and Kuli Faletau was the first to move to Wales when he began a career with Ebbw Vale and Pontypool in 1997. Over 100 hundred appearances and … History. It’s just an ordinary looking building, a short touch-finder across the way from the rugby club. In August 2011, he was named in the Wales squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. [8] On 11 September 2011, he made his World Cup debut for Wales against South Africa, scoring his first international try in the second half, adding another in the game against Namibia. In recent years, he has requested that his rugby squad name be recorded more accurately as Taulupe, but does not mind being called Toby.[2]. How Jonah Lomu and the King of Tonga led Toby Faletau to play for Wales Football. On the grounds of Eugene Cross Park in Ebbw Vale, there lies a house. This marked a return from injury for Faletau, who played the full 80 minutes as Wales beat Italy 38-14. The Welshman was impressive, as the Lions beat Australia 41–16 securing their first test series win since 1997. On 11 March 2018, in Wales' match against Italy, in the fifth round of the 2018 Six Nations Championship, Faletau was appointed as captain of the Welsh team for the first time in his career, becoming the 131st player to become captain of Wales' international rugby team. Faletau continued to represent Wales in the November 2013 Autumn Series,[12] scoring his third test try against Argentina in a man of the match performance. The back row forward played for Cross Keys RFC, Newport RFC and Newport Gwent Dragons before joining Bath. Meanwhile Faletau - the son of former Ebbw Vale and Tonga lock forward Kuli - could be fast-tracked into Test contention, with Martyn Williams, Jonathan Thomas, Sam Warburton and Dan Lydiate the only fit Wales back-rowers ahead of Saturday's Millennium Stadium match. A year earlier, Kuli Faletau joined another Gwent club, Ebbw Vale, and moved his family - including then six-year-old son Taulupe - with him to south Wales. [17] He started both tests on the tour including the narrow 31–30-second test defeat, in which Wales lost after conceding a last minute penalty try. Kuli Faletau (born 30 December 1963) is a Tongan former international rugby union player who played as a lock. By Steffan Thomas. [5], It was confirmed on 9 December 2015 that, after months of speculation, Faletau would be joining English Premiership side Bath Rugby in time for the 2016–17 season.[6]. Standout performances across the tour allowed Faletau a starting place in all three tests against the All Blacks. 1998: Ebbw Vale's Festive Tongans . Related BBC sites. Faletau started in the quarter-final against South Africa on 17 October 2015 and was not subbed off, but Wales unluckily lost to South Africa 19-23, being knocked out of the competition. The young Faletau gets up to mischief at Ebbw Vale Kingsley Jones’ earliest memory is of Taulupe and his brother Siua, or Josh as he’s known, climbing on the roof of his car. … 1998: Ebbw Vale's Tongan contingent, including Kuli Faletau - father of Newport Gwent Dragons' Toby - celebrate Christmas in Wales. During the same summer, it was announced that Faletau had signed a new three-year deal to remain at the Dragons region until 2016. [13], On 20 January 2014, Faletau was included in the 32-man Wales squad for the 2014 Six Nations Championship. He is Tonga's most capped forward. IN ASSOCIATION WITH. On 1 July 2017, Faletau scored the opening try of the second test against the All Blacks in the 59th minute, barging over All Blacks back Israel Dagg to score. The family migration from the south Pacific to south Wales was prompted by Faletau's father Kuli - who represented Tonga at the 1999 World Cup - joining Ebbw Vale. Advertisement. Evidence of rugby union being played in Ebbw Vale is noted around 1879. Faletau was born in Tofoa, Tonga, to Tongan international Kuli Faletau, who represented Tonga at the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Taulupe Faletau Bath Back Row 187cm 113kg. He made his debut for the senior side during the 2009/10 season. Tangaki Taulupe " Toby " Faletau (born 12 November 1990) is a Tongan-born professional rugby union player who represents Wales internationally. Carwyn Tuipulotu – one of the most coveted young rugby players in the UK – hopes he can be Wales’ No 8 in the long-run after turning his back on England. He toured Australia with the British & Irish Lions in the summer, playing in the series clinching final Test in Sydney. [14] He started all five games and scored a try in a 51–3 thrashing of Scotland on 15 March, as Wales finished the campaign in 3rd. [6], "Six Nations: Family fortune for Faletau favours Wales", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kuli_Faletau&oldid=941730117, Short description is different from Wikidata, Infobox rugby biography with deprecated parameters, Pages using infobox rugby biography with multiple amateurclubs, Pages using infobox rugby biography with multiple clubs, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 20 February 2020, at 09:05. Tongan-born Taulupe Faletau moved to Wales aged seven when his father Kuli signed for Ebbw Vale. [3], Faletau played at club level for Tonmawr, Toa-ko-ma'afu, Ebbw Vale and Pontypool. I have only selected from players who I have actually seen play, not names I have heard wonderful stories about like Len Dimmock, Roy Evans and Wilf Hunt. [15], On 30 May 2014, Faletau was named in the 32-man squad for the mid-year test series against South Africa[16] after playing in a "Possibles vs Probables" match at the Liberty Stadium, in which he played on the Probables team, which won 55–7. [23] Faletau was selected for the 2015 Rugby World Cup later that year as part of Wales' 31-man squad. [20], Faletau played every minute of Wales' 2015 Six Nations campaign, which included the Round 4 23–16 victory against Ireland in which Wales made a massive 250 tackles to deny the Irish a grand slam,[21] and the final round 61–20 thrashing of Italy, which left Ireland needing to win their game against Scotland by 17 points or more to clinch the championship, which they did.[22]. [4], Faletau played a significant role in Newport Gwent Dragons's run to the semi-finals of the 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup, playing in seven of their eight games during the competition until they were eventually knocked out by Edinburgh. Now the season has officially ended I was thinking which players past and present would form my Ebbw Vale team if they were all still playing. No8 Taulupe Faletau was born in Tonga and is the cousin of England internationals Mako and Billy Vunipola. [1] Taulupe attended Pontygof Primary School until 1999 and then Pontnewynydd Primary School until July 2002, then attended Trevethin Community School, then attended Filton College (now part of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College) as part of the college's successful rugby academy and received player of the year during his time at the college. [1], Faletau played as a lock, and played in 20 tests for Tonga between 1988 and 1999, scoring 2 tries and 9 points. Taulupe attended Pontygof Primary School until 1999 and then Pontnewynydd Primary School until July 2002, then attended Trevethin Community School, then attended Filton College (now part of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College) as part of the college's successful rugby academy and received player of the year during his time at the … [7] He made his full international debut for Wales versus the Barbarians on 4 June 2011. He was fast-tracked into the Dragons' Under-20 squad and Academy. Ebbw Vale RFC applied for and achieved Welsh Rugby Union (then known as the Welsh Football Union) membership between 1893 and 1894.. On 22 December 2009, he was named in the Wales under-20 Squad for the 2010 Under-20 Six Nations tournament. Share. He was the only player to start all seven of Wales' games. In May 2012, Faletau was announced in the Wales squad for the three test series against Australia, but he had to withdraw from the squad after suffering a broken hand in the first test in Brisbane. Faletau made his debut for the Newport Gwent Dragons senior team, on 1 November 2009, versus Edinburgh. Faletau, who is the son of former Tongan international Kili, was at the Bristol Academy of Sport at Filton College when he was spotted by the Dragons set up. However, Billy withdrew from the touring squad due to injury, leaving Faletau, as well as his brother to head off on their second Lions tour without him. Toby moved to Wales aged seven when his father, 17-times capped Tongan international lock Kuli Faletau, joined Ebbw Vale. Little Cousin Carwyn Aims To Be Chip Off The Faletau/Vunipola Block. 36/52 Tonga – Taulupe Faletau By Anna Rose Kerr. Faletau finished the 1-1 drawn series without being subbed off for the whole Lions tour and played the most minutes of anyone on tour. He was nicknamed Toby as a kid. Carwyn Tuipulotu is the son of former Ebbw Vale and Tongan international Kati Tuipulotu. [18], On 21 October 2014, Faletau was included in the Wales squad for the 2014 Autumn Series,[19] starting all 4 games including a historic victory over South Africa in the final test on 29 November. [2], He also appeared at the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Taulupe Faletau (2009-2016): 110 appearances. Before the game against Italy in the 2015 Six Nations campaign, an email from the Welsh Rugby Union indicated that Faletau wanted to be known by his birth name of Taulupe Faletau. In April 2013, Faletau was named in the squad for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. Darren Edwards urges Wales coach Warren Gatland to pick Dragons back-rower Toby Faletau in his World Cup squad. We take a closer look at the winner of the number 8 position in the Regional All Stars Ultimate XV feature supported by doopoll … Taulupe Faletau. Tangaki Taulupe "Toby" Faletau (born 12 November 1990) is a Tongan-born professional rugby union player who represents Wales internationally. WALES Under 20s star Toby Faletau is set to make his first start for Newport Gwent Dragons in their St Patrick’s night Magners League game… Mark Jones, Ebbw Vale and Kuli Faletau, Llanelli go up for the line out Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images Phil, a front row forward in his playing days for Ebbw Vale, Abertillery and Blaina, was the first generation to play for the Steelmen, followed by his son Kingsley and grandsons, Rhys and Dorian with Rhys still maintaining the family playing link with the club. In January 2011, he was included in the Wales squad for the 2011 Six Nations Championship. Kuli moved to Wales in 1997 to join Ebbw Vale. Faletau went on to start in wins against the Crusaders and the Māori All Blacks, playing the full 80 minutes in both. Faletau's try inspired a late comeback from the Lions, with both teams down to 14 players, and the Lions went on to make a historic win over the All Blacks that day, beating them 24-21. Growing up with the sport it’s not hard to see how he’s become a hero of Welsh rugby. Faletau and his English cousins, Mako and Billy Vunipola, were selected for the British & Irish Lions for their 2017 tour to New Zealand. A-Z of Sports. Vunipola's injury went on to benefit Faletau, as he started the first match on tour, winning Man of the Match against the New Zealand Barbarians on 3 June 2017. [1][5] He also has two other sons,[6] and is a lay preacher in Wales. BBC Sport rugbyunion. Rugby fans old and young queued for autographs from the All Black giant with a smiling Phil by his side, the sense of pride in his protégé only matched by his pride in the area he came from. Faletau played as a lock, and played in 20 tests for Tonga between 1988 and 1999, scoring 2 tries and 9 points. Kuli moved to Wales in 1997 to join Ebbw Vale. So here goes at 15 Paul Pablo Rees,14 Wayne Bow,13Arthur Lewis,12 Gary Lawrence,11 Lenny … [9], Faletau also played all five games in Wales' 2013 Six Nations Championship victory, including the 30–3 win over England in the final match.[10]. [24][25], 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, "Six Nations: Family fortune for Faletau favours Wales", http://sportlocker.ie/taulupe-faletau-reveals-why-everyone-stopped-calling-him-toby/, "Dragons' Dan Watchurst to lead Wales U20s in Argentina", "Martyn Williams omitted from Wales Six Nations squad", "Australia v Wales: Toby Faletau ruled out, Gareth Delve called up", "Warren Gatland names three uncapped players for Wales", "Wales beat Argentina 40–6 in Cardiff in autumn international", "Six Nations 2014: Wales thrash Scotland as Stuart Hogg sent off", "Matthew Rees makes Wales tour after cancer", "Wales beaten 31–30 by South Africa after late penalty try", "Wales: No Adam Jones and James Hook in autumn squad", "Six Nations 2015: 'Exhausted' Sam Warburton praises Wales defence", "Wales vs Italy preview: Taulupe Faletau vows to lead by example and let his actions do the talking", "New Wales skipper Taulupe Faletau says he was 'stunned' to be given the captaincy by Warren Gatland; Quiet man Faletau says he will lead by his actions rather than words as he skippers Wales for the first time", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Taulupe_Faletau&oldid=1021762668, British and Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales, Short description is different from Wikidata, Infobox rugby biography with deprecated parameters, Pages using infobox rugby biography with multiple clubs, Pages using infobox rugby biography with multiple nationalteam, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 6 May 2021, at 15:00. Tuilagi would be in the former category, as would Faletau, who moved to Wales from Tonga as a seven-year-old when his father, also a rugby player, signed for Ebbw Vale. Kuli Faletau, a second row for Tonga, was another to head to Gwent, pitching up at Ebbw Vale where Phil Kingsley Jones’s son – Kingsley Jones – was captain. He then appeared in all five matches of Wales' Grand Slam-winning 2012 Six Nations Championship campaign, excelling throughout the championship and making many pundits' team of the tournament. 29/04/2020. His father Kuli played for Tonga at the 1999 World Cup and the family moved to Wales in 1997 when he signed for Ebbw Vale. Posted on 31st December 2019 by Editor. Tongan second row Kuli Faletau stretched Ebbw Vale's lead with a try beneath the posts, which Hayward converted to give his side a 20-8 half- time lead. Prior to his move across the border, he had suffered several setbacks from both the Gwent District organisation and the Newport Gwent Dragons Regional. Conference and Events; Conferences; meeting rooms; Parties & Dinners; Weddings; JOIN THE FLIGHT SUBSCRIBE Ultimate XV: Taulupe Faletau. [4][5], He is the father of Welsh international Taulupe Faletau. 110kg Taulupe (Toby) Faletau was born in Tonga in 1990, but as a child moved to Ebbw Vale with his rugby playing dad. Many in the Ebbw Vale area are eternally grateful to Phil for bringing Jonah to Ebbw Vale where he wore the Steelmen colours in a friendly game. As a young boy, his school friends struggled to pronounce his Tongan name, and so he picked up the nickname Toby. News; Weather; Sport Relief; Page last updated at 17:13 GMT, Monday, 1 November 2010. Costa Coffee in Ebbw Vale's Festival Park will close its doors for the final time this October, following a mass exodus of retailers at the once booming shopping centre. After the … Premiership: Ebbw Vale RFC; Rodney Parade. Faletau was born in Tofoa, Tonga, to Tongan international Kuli Faletau, who represented Tonga at the 1999 Rugby World Cup. 1998: Ebbw Vale's Tongan … Son of Kuli Faletau, Tonga's most capped forward who played second row for Ebbw Vale, it will be his first Six Nations start. The back row forward played for Cross Keys RFC, Newport RFC and Newport Gwent Dragons before joining Bath. He finished the tournament as the top tackler and ball carrier, the first time a single player has ever topped both tables. [3] In May 2010, he was selected for the Wales Under 20 Squad for the Junior World Cup in Argentina in June 2010. [11] After failing to feature in the first two tests, Faletau was named at number 8 in the final test ahead of Jamie Heaslip. EBBW Vale product Toby Faletau has been picked as part of the Wales squad that will defend the Six Nations title. A lock his World Cup squad at club level for Tonmawr, Toa-ko-ma'afu, Ebbw Vale ] [ 5 he. 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