| Full name | Benjamin Vainga Charles Tameifuna | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 August 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 151 kg (333 lb; 23 st 11 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Hastings Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Sona Taumalolo (uncle) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Benjamin Vainga Charles Tameifuna (Tongan: [dɑːmeɪfʊnɑː]; born 30 August 1991) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Top 14 club Bordeaux Bègles. Born in New Zealand, he represents Tonga at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.[1]
Tameifuna made his Hawke Bay's debut as a teenager in 2010.[2] He represented the New Zealand under 20s at the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship,[3] and in March 2012 he made his Chiefs debut after an injury sidelined Ben Afeaki.[2] In 2013, he signed a contract extension with the Chiefs until 2014.[4]
After four years with the Chiefs, in June 2015 Tameifuna signed with Racing 92, who changed their name from Racing Metro in the same month. They are based in Paris and are part of the French Top 14.[5]
On 14 May 2020, Tameifuna left Racing 92 to sign for French rivals Bordeaux from the 2020–21 season.[6]
In May 2012 he was selected for the All Blacks[7][8] to train for the three Test series against Ireland. At over 130 kg, he was the heaviest member of the All Black squad. Tameifuna was not capped for New Zealand.
Tameifuna made his international debut for Tonga against Wales on 16 June 2017. Tameifuna was first in their squad for the 2016 European tour but was not capped on that tour.[9]
Tameifuna's uncle Sona Taumalolo was another Chiefs prop, who also played for Tonga at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.[10] In July 2012, with hooker Mahonri Schwalger from Samoa, the two props combined for 60 minutes to help the Chiefs beat the Crusaders 20–17, at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.[11] When Tameifuna signed to play in France, Taumalolo was already playing there, for FC Grenoble.[12]
