Pelu Taele

Pelu Ian Taele-Pavihi (born 28 September 1981, in Dunedin), also known as Pelu Taele, is a New Zealand-born Samoan and Niue international rugby union footballer.[1] He is a 1.98 metres (6 ft 6 in) second row forward who joined Biarritz Olympique before the 2009–10 season.[2][3]

Pelu Taele
Birth namePelu Ian Taele-Pavihi
Date of birth (1981-09-28) 28 September 1981
Place of birthDunedin, New Zealand
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight251 lb (114 kg)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Biarritz Olympique
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006–2007
2007–2009
2009–2014
2014-2017
2017-		 Leeds Tykes
Parma
Biarritz
Bayonne
RC Narbonne		 12
39
111
46
14		 (5)
(25)
(25)
(5)
(0)
Correct as of 30 January 2015
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2004–2006 Otago 2 (0)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005–2010 Samoa 11 (0)

Club career

Taele played for the Highlanders development squad in 2004[4] and represented Otago in the National Provincial Championship. He signed for Saracens in July 2006, with the intention of joining up with the squad after completing the New Zealand season with Otago.[5] By the time he arrived in England, there was too much competition for his position at Saracens so he was loaned to Leeds Tykes.[6] His 13 appearances for Leeds helped them win the 2006–07 National Division One title.[7] Taele then spent two seasons with Overmach Parma, where he was part of the team that won the Coppa Italia in both 2008 and 2009.[8][9] Before the 2009–10 season Taele moved to Biarritz Olympique.[3] In 2014 he signed a two-year deal with Aviron Bayonnais.[10]

International career

Taele gained selection for the Samoan national side by virtue of his performances with Otago.[7] He made his international debut against Tonga in July 2005 and was in the starting XV against England later the same year. He featured in the 2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations squad with tests against the Junior All Blacks, Fiji, Tonga and Japan, and (as of November 2011) has eight caps in total.[11]

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Players & Officials / Pelu Taele-Pavihi". scrum.com. ESPN. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  3. "Index card of player Taele-Pavihi Pelu". It's Rugby. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  4. "Webb goes for Highlanders spot". scrum.com. ESPN. 28 January 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  5. "Samoan adds weight to Saracens pack". Saracens F.C. 13 July 2006. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  6. "Pavihi joins Tykes on loan". Saracens F.C. 4 December 2006. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  7. "Leeds Carnegie Profile Pelu Taele". Leeds Carnegie. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  8. "Al Sergio Lanfranchi di Parma la finale di Coppa Italia 2008" [2008 Coppa Italia final from Parma's Sergio Lanfranchi Stadium] (in Italian). Lega Italiana Rugby d’Eccellenza. 6 February 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  9. "Finale Coppa Italia 2009: La diretta Web testuale" [2008 Coppa Italia final: Live text] (in Italian). Lega Italiana Rugby d’Eccellenza. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  10. "Taele signs for Bayonne". Planet Rugby. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  11. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Pelu Taele-Pavihi / Test matches". scrum.com. ESPN. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
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