John Afoa
 | |||
| Full name | Ioane Fitu Afoa | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 September 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 119 kg (18 st 10 lb) | ||
| School | St. Kentigern College Papakura High School | ||
| Notable relative(s) | James Afoa (brother) | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Prop | ||
| New Zealand No. | 1062 | ||
| Amateur clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | ||
| Auckland University Rugby Club | |||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2014– | Gloucester Rugby | 54 | (10) |
| correct as of 1 Apr 2015. | |||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2002–2011 2011–2014 |
Auckland Ulster |
70 58 |
(5) (15) |
| Super Rugby | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2004–2011 | Blues | 101 | (15) |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2005–2011 | New Zealand | 36 | (5) |
Ioane Fitu "John" Afoa (born 16 September 1983) is a New Zealand professional Rugby union player. His position of choice is at prop. Afoa currently plays for Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership.
Personal life
Afoa was a student at Auckland's Papakura High School, then St. Kentigern College, where he played first XV rugby alongside fellow All Blacks Joe Rokocoko and Jerome Kaino.[1]
Career
Representative Rugby
Afoa has moved through a number of international representative sides. In 1999 he made the New Zealand U16 team, the youngest national representative team. Through 2000 and 2001 he played in the more senior New Zealand Schools' side. Moving steadily through the age grades, he was a member of the NZ U19 teams of 2002 and 2003.
In both 2003 and 2004, Afoa was part of the New Zealand Under 21 Rugby World Championship team.[1] The New Zealanders won the tournament both years. In 2003 Afoa was one of four kiwis named in the IRB's team of the tournament.
Provincial Rugby
Afoa played for Auckland between 2002 and 2011. He played for Ulster in the RaboDirect Pro 12
Super 14
Afoa played for the Blues and made his debut in 2004 against the Brumbies. He made 101 appearances with the team between 2004 and 2011.
All Blacks
In 2005 Afoa was selected for the All Blacks Tri-nations squad. Despite this he never took the field in that competition and didn't earn his first test cap until the end-of-year tour. In November 2005 he finally became the 1062nd All Black when he started against Ireland at Lansdowne Road.
In 2010, Afoa was experimented to be used at hooker. The same year against Wales, Afoa scored his first test try showing some great running for a Prop for a 30m Try.
Afoa's test career ended after the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He played 36 tests, 30 as a substitute.[1]
Gloucester Rugby
On 6 December 2013, Afoa officially joined Gloucester Rugby in the English Aviva Premiership on a four-year contract worth £400,000 per season. This made him one of the highest-paid players in the Premiership and the third highest-paid player in European rugby.[2][3]
References
- 1 2 3 Palenski, Ron (2014). The All Blackography: The indispensable guide to every All Black. Auckland, New Zealand: Upstart Press. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-927262-16-0.
- ↑ "All-Black tight-head prop John Afoa joins Gloucester". ESPN scrum. 6 December 2013.
- ↑ "John Afoa's lucrative deal". ESPN scrum. 9 December 2013.