Amanaki Mafi
| Full name | Amanaki Lelei Mafi | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | January 21, 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Tofoa, Tonga | ||
| Height | 189 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 112 kg (17 st 9 lb; 247 lb) | ||
| School | Tonga College 'Atele | ||
| University | Hanazono University | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Number 8 | ||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2014– 2016 |
NTT Shining Arcs → Bath (loan) |
19 7 |
(35) (20) |
| correct as of 24 July 2016. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2014– | Japan | 13 | (20) |
| correct as of 26 November 2016. | |||
Amanaki Lelei Mafi (born 11 January 1990) is a rugby union player from Tonga who currently plays as a number 8 for the NTT Shining Arcs and the Japan national rugby union team.
Mafi represented Tonga U20 in the 2009 Junior World Cup, before moving to Hanazono University in Japan in 2010. After a breakout first season in the Top League for NTT Shining Arcs, Mafi was named in both the Tonga and Japan squad for the 2014 November tests.[1] He opted to play for Japan though, and made an immediate impact which was noted as 'pretty special' by coach Eddie Jones.[2]
He was then sidelined for eight months with a career threatening dislocated hip injury, but recovered just in time to make it back into the 2015 Rugby World Cup squad, where he again impressed. Following the 2015–16 Top League season, he moved to England to join for Bath on a short term loan deal where he was described as a 'sensation', [3] however his stay was ended early in controversial circumstances following an altercation with the club's medical officer.[4]
In August 2016 Mafi signed to join the Melbourne Rebels to train for the 2017 Super Rugby season.[5]
On November 19th 2016 Mafi won the Man of the Match award in Japan's 33-30 loss to Wales at the Principality Stadium in the Under Armour Autumn Series.
References
- ↑ "Le dilemme d'Amanaki Lelei Mafi".
- ↑ "Goromaru's Boot Helps Japan Keep Win Streak Alive Vs. Romania".
- ↑ "Bath Rugby sensation Amanaki Mafi wants to go back to Japan".
- ↑ "Bath Rugby: Amanaki Mafi has left after an altercation with the club's medical chief".
- ↑ Melbourne Rebels (4 August 2016). "Rebels secure marquee international No.8 Amanaki Mafi" (Press release).