Junior Poluleuligaga

Junior Poluleuligaga (born 5 February 1981) is a Samoan rugby union international player. He previously played for Exeter Chiefs in the Aviva Premiers before returning to Auckland and played two years with Auckland rugby union team before retiring 2015. He played as a Scrum-half and was educated at De La Salle College, Mangere East. His name is often abbreviated to Junior Polu. He is currently the Rugby Development Officer (RDO) for the Papatoetoe Rugby Football Club and occasionally plays for the La Salle Collegians old boys rugby team.

Not to be confused with rugby league players named Junior Paulo.

Junior Poluleuligaga
Full nameAugusitino Junior Poluleuligaga
Date of birth (1981-02-05) 5 February 1981
Place of birthOtahuhu, New Zealand
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight96 kg (15 st 2 lb; 212 lb)
SchoolSt Joseph's Primary School, Otahuhu
De La Salle College, Mangere East
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-Half
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2004–07 North Harbour 18 (10)
2006 Blues 9 (5)
2007–08 Toulon 18 (0)
2008–09 Harlequins 9 (0)
2009 Bay of Plenty 13 (10)
2010 Chiefs 12 (5)
2010–13 Exeter Chiefs 25 (0)
2013– Auckland 18 (5)
Correct as of 19 October 2014
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006 Pacific Islanders 2 (0)
2007 – Samoa 21 (20)
Correct as of 23 June 2013

Career

So much of Junior Poluleuligaga's career depended on his great rival Steve So'oialo. Polu began his career by breaking into the North Harbour provincial side, he was spotted for the Samoan national team and in 2006 was selected to nationalise to play for his parents country, representing composite side Pacific Islanders as a Samoan, having been unwanted for the 2004 tour due to the presence of So'oialo.

Pacific Islanders' Tour

A solid tour as Mosese Rauluni's understudy lead to several offers from European clubs, but Polu declined and remained true to his North Harbour contract and returned home.

International career

Following the success of the Pacific Islanders tour Polu represented Samoa in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup in the summer of 2007 due to the absence of So'oialo. Here he was again 2nd choice to So'oialo, although his luck was about the change.

2007 World Cup

So'oialo and Polu were both selected for the 2007 RWC squad, as Samoa looked to upset 2003 champions England and eventual champions South Africa. Polu was selected ahead of So'oialo for the opening game against the springboks, which they lost despite an encouraging start. So'oialo was restored for the derby game against Tonga which despite entering as overwhelming favourates lost 19–12. Polu was once again restored for the do or die game with England setting up an excellent try for Mahonri Schwalger. Having travelled north to France for the world cup Polu joined RC Toulon on a short-term deal.

Harlequins

In the off season before the 2008/09 season he signed for Harlequins ironically moving to join So'oialo, and has since ousted his great rival for the bench spot behind England scrum half Danny Care. When his Harlequins contract finished in the summer of 2009 he joined the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the Air New Zealand Cup.

Waikato Chiefs

In 2010 Junior Polu was selected for the Waikato Chiefs as a backup Scrum Half for Brendon Leonard. On 21 February 2010 Junior Polu was selected ahead of Leonard at No. 9 against the Lions.

Exeter Chiefs

On 17 August 2010 Exeter Chiefs announced that they had completed a deal and visa for Junior. It was announced in local media in Devon, England that Polu will be leaving Exeter Chiefs at the end of the 2012/13 season.[1]

References
  1. Bentley, Chris (2 May 2013). "It's time to say goodbye to a host of quality Chiefs players". Exeter: Express and Echo.
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