Nephi Leatigaga
Birth nameNephi Tupou Leatigaga
Date of birth (1993-12-05) 5 December 1993 (age 30)
Place of birthSalelologa, Siumu, Samoa
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight149.1 kg (329 lb; 23 st 7 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loosehead Prop, Tighthead Prop
Current team New South Wales Waratahs
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2017 Piacenza 9 (13)
2017–2019 Biarritz Olympique 29 (20)
2019–2023 Leicester Tigers 77 (5)
2023 New South Wales Waratahs 8 (5)
Correct as of 19 April 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016– Samoa 6 (0)
Correct as of 6 May 2019

Nephi Tupou Leatigaga (born 5 December 1993)[1] is a Samoan rugby union prop for New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby. He has previously played for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby, Biarritz Olympique in France's Pro D2 and for Piacenza in Italy. He has played six internationals for Samoa in 2016 between 2022.[1]

Career

Leatigaga was born in Samoa; he first played for Mt Wellington RFC and Auckland Rugby Union in New Zealand.[2] After impressing for Samoa 'A' he was called up for Samoa's November 2016 touring squad.[3] He made his international debut on 25 November 2016 against Canada in a 25-23 win at the Stade des Alpes in Grenoble, France.[4] On 18 January 2017 he joined Rugby Lyons Piacenza in Italy's Super 10[5] On 15 June 2017 his signature was announced by Biarritz Olympique.[6] After a season in France his signature for Leicester was widely reported in the French media in July 2018,[7] which prompted Biarritz to release a statement claiming his agent was unregistered[8] which the agent denied, saying he was registered with the RFU allowing him to sign the player to an English club.[9]

His signing for the 2019-20 season was confirmed by Leicester Tigers on 6 May 2019.[10] Leatigaga played as a replacement in the 2022 Premiership Rugby final as Tigers beat Saracens 15-12.[11] On 19 April 2023 he signing was announced by New South Wales Waratahs as injury cover for Angus Bell.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b "Nephi Leatigaga ESPN profile". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  2. ^ "September teams". Auckland Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Samoa confirm November touring squad". Americas Rugby News. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Canada (6) 23 - 25 (16) Samoa (FT)". Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Rugby - Lyons, arriva il pilone di origini samoane Nephi Leatigaga„Rugby - Lyons, arriva il pilone di origini samoane Nephi Leatigaga"" (in Italian). 18 January 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Pro D2 : un champion du monde au Biarritz Olympique" (in French). France Bleu. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Transferts - Biarritz : Nephi Leatigaga signe 2 ans à Leicester" (in French). RugbyRama. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Pro D2 : Biarritz oppose un fervent démenti au départ de Nephi Leatigaga !" (in French). Tribune Sports. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Affaire Leatigaga : l'agent incriminé par le Biarritz Olympique se défend" (in French). Sud Ouest. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Leicester Tigers: Tomas Lavanini, Nephi Leatigaga and Charlie Clare sign". BBC. 6 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title". BBC Sport. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Nephi Leatigaga: Leicester Tigers prop leaves to join NSW Waratahs". BBC Sport. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.


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