 | |||
| Nickname(s) | Tahiti Nui XV, Aito | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Fédération Tahitienne de Rugby de Polynésie Française | ||
| Head coach | Romi Ropati | ||
| Captain | Tunui Anania | ||
| Top scorer | Manuarii Richmond | ||
| Top try scorer | Manuarii Richmond | ||
| Home stadium | Stade Pater Te Hono Nui | ||
| |||
| World Rugby ranking | |||
| Current | 96 (as of 23 November 2020) | ||
| First international | |||
 Tahiti 0–3 Wallis and Futuna  (1 September 1971) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
Tahiti 36–12 Solomon Islands  (26 August 2015) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
Tahiti 9–102 Fiji  (12 September 1983) | |||
The Tahiti national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union team, representing the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. They first played in 1971 and have played numerous games to date, most against rivals Cook Islands and several against Niue. Other games have been played against Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. France played a match against Tahiti at the end of their 1979 tour and won 92–12.[1] Plans to have annual "test" match series against Pacific island neighbours, New Caledonia have been put on hold, due to time, availability, finances, and coaching and refereeing resources. They have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Tahiti is administered by the Fédération Tahitienne de Rugby de Polynésie Française. Currently, players who have represented or played for the Tahiti national rugby team, are eligible to represent France. However, playing at a professional level can only enable this. At present there are several Tahitian professional rugby players abroad in France's Top 14 and Pro D2 professional competition.
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Transcription
History
Rugby is greatly growing in popularity in Tahiti, but the national sport still remains soccer.
Rugby came to Tahiti via three separate streams, firstly, through the visits of British, New Zealand and Australian sailors; secondly, through the French presence (many of the main teams are still French military); and thirdly through contact with neighbouring Pacific islands, where the game is popular.[2]
Tahiti first played the game in 1971.
It was founded in 1989 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1994.
It is also a full member of Oceania Rugby, which is the governing body for rugby union in Oceania.
Up to 2003, Tahiti played in international rugby sevens (Pacific Games) and XV-a-side, in the qualifying rounds for the Rugby World Cup.[3]
In 2006, there were fourteen clubs in the national championship and two divisions.[3] There were also sevens competitions, women's rugby, and under-18 rugby competitions as well.[3]
In 2017 Tahiti won the Oceania Rugby Cup, beating their rivals Cook Islands at BCI Stadium in Rarotonga, Cook Islands by a score of 13–9.
Uniform and colors
Tahiti's kit are typically All red with white tribal, designs, etc. They also can be seen using a white jersey with red tribal, designs, etc. In the past they have used all white kits with red as their secondary color, and also Red jersey with the Tahitian flag colors and black shorts.
Kit providers
| Year | Kit Manufacturer | Main Shirt Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1971–1979 | — | |
| 1979–1980 | — | |
| 1980–1982 | — | |
| 1982–1983 | — | |
| 1982–1983 | — | |
| 1983–1997 | — | |
| 1997–2001 | — | |
| 2001–2003 | — | |
| 2003–2005 |  Puma |
— |
| 2005–2006 | — | |
| 2006–2013 | — | |
| 2013–2015 | — | |
| 2015–present | Sportif JRH |
Air Tahiti Nui |
Home grounds
Tahiti have played most of their home matches at Stade Pater Te Hono Nui and Stade Fautaua.
Tahiti has also hosted matches for numerous Pacific Games and Oceania Cup. They share these venues with the Tahiti national football team and club sides from both rugby and football.
Annually Tahiti hosts the Papeete International Sevens Tournament.
Record
Oceania Cup
Tahiti competes in the Oceania Cup which is played against seven other Pacific nations: American Samoa, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Tahiti has competed in the very first Oceania Cup when it was created in 1997. Since 2015, Tahiti has played 4 matches against: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, American Samoa and Cook Islands recording a record of 3 wins and 1 loss. Their only loss was to 2015 Oceania Cup Champions Papua New Guinea, and until this date, it has been their only loss since then. They placed second in the standings table and were Runner-up in the tournament. In 2017 they won the Oceania Cup beating their rival Cook Islands in the 2017 Oceania Cup Championship by a score of 9–13 in Avarua, Cook Islands.
Oceania tournaments
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Match venue | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996* |  Cook Islands
|
round-robin |  Papua New Guinea
|
Rarotonga | [4] |
| 2002* | Papua New Guinea
|
29–14 16–21 |
Cook Islands
|
Port Moresby Rarotonga |
[5] |
| 2003 |  Niue
|
round-robin | Cook Islands
|
Auckland Rarotonga |
[6] |
| 2004 | Cook Islands
|
50–5 | Niue
|
Rarotonga | [7][8] |
| 2005* | Cook Islands
|
37–12 11–20 |
Papua New Guinea
|
Rarotonga Port Moresby |
[9] |
| 2006 | The final of the 2006 FORU Cup between Vanuatu and Niue was cancelled. | [10] | |||
Oceania Cup
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Match venue | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007† | Papua New Guinea
|
46–27 | Niue
|
Paliati, Alofi | [11] |
| 2008 | Niue
|
27–5 |  New Caledonia
|
Nouméa | [12] |
| 2009* | Papua New Guinea
|
29–21 | Cook Islands
|
Port Moresby | [13] |
| 2011 | Papua New Guinea
|
round-robin | Solomon Islands
|
Port Moresby | [14] |
| 2013* | Cook Islands
|
round-robin | Papua New Guinea
|
Port Moresby | [15] |
| 2015 | Papua New Guinea
|
round-robin | Tahiti
|
Port Moresby | [16] |
| 2017* | Tahiti
|
13–9 | Cook Islands
|
Rarotonga | [17] |
| 2019 | Papua New Guinea
|
round-robin | Niue
|
Port Moresby | [18] |
Notes:
- * Part of the Rugby World Cup qualification process.
- † The final of the 2007 tournament was not held until April 2008. Starting from 2009, the tournament has been held biennially.
Rugby World Cup
| World Cup record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | P | W | D | L | F | A |
  1987 |
Not invited | ||||||
  1991 |
did not qualify | ||||||
 1995
| |||||||
 1999
| |||||||
| 2003
| |||||||
| 2007
| |||||||
| 2011 |
did not participate | ||||||
 2015 |
did not qualify | ||||||
 2019 |
Disqualified | ||||||
| 2023 |
Suspended | ||||||
| Total | 0/9 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Overall
Tahiti are currently ranked 84th on the World Rugby Rankings table.[19]
| Against | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 American Samoa |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Cook Islands |
9 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Fiji |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| France |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
 Italy |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| New Caledonia |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Niue |
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Papua New Guinea |
3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
 Samoa |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Solomon Islands |
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
 Tonga |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wallis and Futuna |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 29 | 7 | 22 | 0 |
Players
Tahiti Nui XV "Aito"
Head coach: Romi Ropati
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Lahille | Hooker | 20 March 1990 | L'Isle-Jourdain
|
| Martin Taeae | Prop | 24 July 1991 | Valence-d'Agen
|
| Patrick Tevero | Prop | 2 December 1993 | La Roche-sur-Yon
|
| Angus Chales | Prop | 28 November 1993 | Pirae
|
| Brandon Tihata | Prop | 29 April 1996 | Le Mans
|
| Loic Tautu | Forward | 13 September 1983 | Arue
|
| Jean Tautu | Forward | 19 June 2000 |
|
| Torea Morou | Lock | 9 August 1991 | Chartres
|
| Lehi Tematafaarere | Lock | 29 July 1989 | Chartres
|
| Andrew Vanaa | Back Row | 23 December 1989 | Isle
|
| Haley Teuira | Flanker | 16 April 1986 | Pirae
|
| Tunui Anania (c) | Flanker | 7 April 1989 | Valence-d'Agen
|
| Manuarii Richmond | Number 8 | 14 April 1988 | Faa'a
|
| Guillaume Brouqui | Scrum-half | 21 July 1985 | Trélissac
|
| Raihau Taurei | Scrum-half | 28 November 1994 | Pirae
|
| Andoni Jimenez | Fly-half | 3 August 1989 | Nantes
|
| Anthony Tesquet | Fly-half | 17 February 1986 | La Teste-de-Buch
|
| Ganaham Huuti | Back | 3 October 1997 |
|
| Teariki Wong Sung | Back | 24 February 1993 | Le Mans
|
| Tamahao Opeta | Centre | 29 October 1997 |
|
| Mathieu Taulelle | Centre | 23 January 1992 |  La Hulpe
|
| Taitearii Mahuru | Centre | 21 December 1989 | Pirae
|
| Vincent Perez | Wing | 17 April 1989 | Tournon-d'Agenais
|
| James Tekurio | Wing | 5 May 1984 | Muret
|
| Makalea Foliaki | Wing | 24 September 1996 | Cognac Saint-Jean-d'Angély
|
| Jean-Teiva Jacquelain | Wing | 22 April 1994 | Mont-de-Marsan
|
| François Tardieu | Fullback | 1 February 1995 | Valence-d'Agen
|
| Cedric Martin | Fullback | 29 June 1989 | FCTT
|
Notable players
| Player | Notability |
|---|---|
| Jean-Teiva Jacquelain | Played for Toulon(Academy) and La Rochelle in Top 14 and Grenoble(Pro D2), currently playing with Mont-de-Marsan in Pro D2 and France 7s |
| Timi Frogier | |
| Richard Mapuhi | Played for French Club Pau in Pro D2 (49 caps, 1990–1994) |
| Tauirai Bessert | |
| Apolosi Foliaki | |
| Makalea Foliaki | Played for Toulon(Academy) in Top 14, now playing with Cognac Saint-Jean-d'Angély in Nationale, he is the son of former player Apolosi Foliaki. |
| Tihoti Tamarono | |
| François Tardieu | Played for Agen(Top 14), Colomiers(Pro D2, Now plays with Valence d’agen(Fédérale 1) |
Vakatini Atuahiva (JJ) Played for Counties Manukau Steeelers NZ 1982, 1991–1995: Manawatu 1984–1990 NZ:, NZ All Black Colts 1982 & 1984:
NZ Divisional XV 1993: NZ Maori All Black 1994: Cook Island 7s and XV
Guest players
These players were capped for Tahiti in an invitational match against France to celebrate Bastille Day in Papeete on 14 July 1981:
- Enrique Rodríguez (dual international for Argentina & Australia)[20]
- Brett Codlin (All Blacks, 1980)
- Robert Kururangi (All Blacks, 1978 & Māori All Blacks, 1982)
- Tim Twigden (All Blacks, 1979–80)
See also
References
- ^ *Vivian Jenkins, ed. (1980). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1980–81. Queen Anne Press. p. 38. ISBN 0-362-02018-3.
- ^ Richard Bath, ed. (1997). The Complete Book of Rugby. Seven Oaks Ltd. p. 75. ISBN 1-86200-013-1.
- ^ a b c (in French) Archives du Rugby: Mayotte retrieved 8 September 2009
- ^ "1999 Rugby World Cup Qualifier Results". ESPNscrum. 1 September 1996.
- ^ "2003 Rugby World Cup Qualifier Results". ESPNscrum. 1 September 1996.
- ^ "Oceania Cup". ESPNscrum. 6 September 2003.
- ^ "Oceania Cup". ESPNscrum. 28 August 2004.
- ^ It is unclear whether this competition included any other game apart from the one between Niue and Cook Islands
- ^ The competition also served as rounds 1 and 2 of Oceania qualification for 2007 Rugby World Cup.
- ^ "FORU Cup 2006 / Results". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ "Niue Island v Papua New Guinea at Paliati". ESPN Scrum. 22 April 2008.
- ^ "Niue take Oceania Cup rugby union final". ABC Radio Australia. 1 September 2008. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008.
- ^ Crucial qualifiers IRB. (2009).
- ^ PNG claim Oceania Cup IRB. (2011).
- ^ "Cook Islands defeat PNG to claim Oceania Cup and keep Rugby World Cup dream alive". Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- ^ "Post Match Review ORC 2015 Final". Oceania Rugby. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ^ "Tahiti take home Oceania Rugby Cup". Oceania Rugby. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
- ^ "Pupuks win 2019 Oceania Cup". Post-Courrier. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
- ^ World Rugby.org (20 April 2015). "World Rugby Rankings". Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- ^ Irene Watt (2 April 2012). "Enrique TOPO Rodríguez talks rugby". Retrieved 22 April 2015.
This page was last edited on 21 January 2024, at 16:47