Sailosi Tagicakibau

Sailosi Tagicakibau (born (1982-11-14)14 November 1982 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a rugby union footballer who has played at wing for London Irish and Wasps in the Aviva Premiership.

Sailosi Tagicakibau
Birth nameSailosi Tagicakibau
Date of birth (1982-11-14) 14 November 1982
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.94 m (6 ft 4 1⁄2 in)
Weight114 kg (251 lb; 17 st 13 lb)[1][2]
SchoolWesley College, Auckland
Notable relative(s)Michael Tagicakibau (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005–2014
2014-2016
2017-2018		 London Irish
Wasps
Warringah Rats		 157
34		 (285)
(40)
Correct as of 27 February 2014
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2004–05 Taranaki 17 35
Correct as of 27 February 2014
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005
2014		 Chiefs
→ Stormers		 7
10		 (5)
(5)
Correct as of 12 July 2014
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003–11
2006–08		 Samoa
Pacific Islanders		 21
3		 (35)
(0)
Correct as of 27 February 2014

He spent the majority of his career with English Premiership side London Irish,[3] making in excess of 150 appearances.[4] He played international rugby for Samoa, achieving 21 caps.[5] By contrast, his brother, Scarlets player Michael, has played for Fiji.

Personal life

Tagicakibau has a Fijian father and Samoan mother. He was a talented all-rounder in his school years excelling at basketball, athletics and rugby union.

He is the eldest of five children, his brother Michael also plays professional rugby.

Prior to competing in professional rugby, he attended Papakura High School and Wesley College rugby schools in New Zealand. He played in Auckland Tailevu sevens team, coached by his father.

Career

Club career

After college, he joined the Taranaki club and came under the guidance of the great All Black Kieran Crowley. He appeared in every National Provincial Championship match during his first season, scoring six tries and was subsequently invited to join the Chiefs for whom he played in eight Super 12 games.

In November 2005, Tagicakibau signed with English Premiership club London Irish and his debut match for the Exiles was on 28 January 2006 against Gloucester.

After nine years at London Irish, Tagicakibau was loaned out to South African Super Rugby side the Stormers 2014 Super Rugby season.[6] After he left London Irish, Sailosi signed for Premiership rivals Wasps from the 2014-15 season.[7] In September 2016 Wasps announced that Tagicakibau had left the club, after they had released him from his contract, at his request, for family reasons.[8]

National team

Sailosi made his debut for the Samoa Sevens national team in 2003, making several appearances and becoming a team staple. Later that year he was selected as part of the Samoa World Cup squad, where he scored tries against Georgia and Uruguay. He has since represented Samoa at the 2007 World Cup held in France and at the 2011 World Cup hosted in his home country of New Zealand. In addition, he has played for Samoa in the Pacific Nations Cup against Fiji, Tonga and Japan, as well as a number of friendlies.

Other notable honours include his inclusion in the 2008 Pacific Islanders squad and the 2012 World Barbarians team.

References
  1. "Aviva Premiership Rugby - London Irish". Premiership Rugby. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  2. http://www.wasps.co.uk/players-staff/player/113979Sailosi-Tagicakibau
  3. "Sailosi Tagicakibau profile". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  4. "It's Rugby Player Profile : Sailosi Tagicakibau". It's Rugby. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  5. "ESPN Player Profile : Sailosi Tagicakibau". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  6. "Tagicakibau to join DHL Stormers" (Press release). Stormers. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  7. "Wasps sign Samoan winger Sailosi Tagicakibau from London Irish". Sky Sports. 15 August 2014.
  8. "Sailosi Tagicakibau released from contract". Retrieved 1 September 2016.
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