Name Seta Tamanivalu Weight 104 kg | Height 1.89 m Role Rugby Player | |
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Play of week seta tamanivalu
Setareki Tamanivalu (born 23 July 1992) is a Fijian-born New Zealand rugby union player. He plays in the centre (and occasionally wing) position for Taranaki and the Christchurch-based Super Rugby side the Crusaders. On 29 May 2016 he was selected in the All Blacks squad for a three test series against Wales.
Contents
- Play of week seta tamanivalu
- Seta Tamanivalu Joe Ravouvou Before the Black Jersey
- Early life
- Domestic career
- References
Seta Tamanivalu / Joe Ravouvou : Before the Black Jersey
Early life
Tamanivalu was born and raised in Fiji. He attended Lelean Memorial School where he excelled in both rugby union and rugby league. He was a member of the Fiji Secondary Schools under-18 rugby league squad that toured Australia in 2010. He later migrated to New Zealand where he gained a scholarship at Saint Kentigern College to play rugby.
Domestic career
Tamanivalu was one of five newcomers in Colin Cooper's Taranaki squad named for their 2012 campaign. He made his professional debut for Taranaki in the 2012 ITM Cup competition, coming on as a replacement against Hawke's Bay.
In 2013, the then 21-year-old was named most promising player of the year after a season that saw him get a regular starting spot, his all-round game had been right up there with the best of the Taranaki backs. He had also been the most threatening attacker which saw him win top try scorer alongside team mate Andre Taylor.
Excitement built over Tamanivalu in 2014 after an amazing ITM Cup season. His statistics for the season were impressive, he was in the top five in tries scored, clean breaks, defenders beaten, metres gained and offloads. His impressive form saw him win the 2014 ITM Cup player of the year, over finalists Shane Christie and Nehe Milner-Skudder. It also saw several Super Rugby franchises in New Zealand and Australia were chasing his signature before he opted to head to the Chiefs in early October.
Tamanivalu poised for what promised to be an exciting 2015, It never eventuated, however, with Tamanivalu struggling for game-time with the Chiefs in the 2015 Super Rugby competition. Itching to get back into the provincial season, things took a backwards step after he strained a knee playing for the New Zealand Barbarians against the Māori All Blacks. Tamanivalu recorded nine appearances and scored four tries for the Taranaki province.
In June 2016, All Blacks coach, Steve Hansen included him in his 32-man squad for the 2016 June international test series against Wales. He was named on the bench for their first test against Wales.
On September 29, 2016 it was announced that Tamanivalu had signed a one year deal with the Crusaders for the 2017 Super Rugby season.