Tahiti national rugby union team

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.

Tahiti
Nickname(s)Tahiti Nui XV, Aito
UnionFédération Tahitienne de Rugby
de Polynésie Française
Head coachRomi Ropati
CaptainTunui Anania
Top scorerManuarii Richmond
Top try scorerManuarii Richmond
Home stadiumStade Pater Te Hono Nui
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current96 (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)
Medal record
International medals
Pacific Games
1995 Papeete
1971 Papeete
1987 Noumea
Pacific Mini Games
1985 Rarotonga

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
YearKit ManufacturerMain 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 JRHAir 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]
2006The 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 Noumea [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
1987Not invited
1991Did not qualify
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011Did not participate
2015Did not qualify
2019Disqualified
2023Suspended
Total 0/9 – – – – – –

Overall

Tahiti are currently ranked 84th on the World Rugby Rankings table.[19]

Against Played Won Lost Drawn
 American Samoa1100
 Cook Islands9270
 Fiji1010
 France2020
 Italy1010
 New Caledonia1100
 Niue4130
 Papua New Guinea3030
 Samoa1010
 Solomon Islands4130
 Tonga1010
 Wallis and Futuna2110
Total297220

Players

Tahiti Nui XV “Aito”

Head coach: Romi Ropati

Player Position Date of birth (age) Club
David Lahille Hooker (1990-03-20) 20 March 1990 L'Isle-Jourdain
Martin Taeae Prop (1991-07-24) 24 July 1991 Valence-d'Agen
Patrick Tevero Prop (1993-12-02) 2 December 1993 La Roche-sur-Yon
Angus Chales Prop Pirae
Brandon Tihata Prop Le Mans
Loic Tautu Forward (1983-09-13) 13 September 1983 Arue
Jean Tautu Forward
Torea Morou Lock (1991-08-09) 9 August 1991 Chartres
Lehi Tematafaarere Lock (1989-07-29) 29 July 1989 Chartres
Andrew Vanaa Back Row (1989-12-23) 23 December 1989 Isle
Taitearii Mahuru Back Row (1989-12-21) 21 December 1989 Pirae
Haley Teuira Flanker (1986-04-16) 16 April 1986 Pirae
Tunui Anania (c) Flanker (1989-04-07) 7 April 1989 Valence-d'Agen
Manuarii Richmond Number 8 (1988-04-14) 14 April 1988 Faa'a
Guillaume Brouqui Scrum-half (1985-07-21) 21 July 1985 Trélissac
Raihau Taurei Scrum-half (1994-11-28) 28 November 1994 Pirae
Andoni Jimenez Fly-half (1989-08-03) 3 August 1989 Nantes
Anthony Tesquet Fly-half (1986-02-17) 17 February 1986 La Teste-de-Buch
Ganaham Huuti Back
Teariki Wong Sung Back (1993-02-24) 24 February 1993 Le Mans
Tamahao Opeta Centre
Mathieu Taulelle Centre (1992-01-23) 23 January 1992 La Hulpe
Vincent Perez Wing (1989-04-17) 17 April 1989 Tournon-d'Agenais
James Tekurio Wing (1984-05-05) 5 May 1984 Muret
Makalea Foliaki Wing (1996-09-24) 24 September 1996 Cognac Saint-Jean-d'Angély
Jean-Teiva Jacquelain Wing (1994-04-22) 22 April 1994 Mont-de-Marsan
François Tardieu Fullback (1995-02-01) 1 February 1995 Valence-d'Agen
Cedric Martin Fullback (1989-06-29) 29 June 1989 FCTT

Notable players
PlayerNotability
Jean-Teiva JacquelainPlayed 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 MapuhiPlayed for French Club Pau in Pro D2 (49 caps, 1990-1994)
Tauirai Bessert
Apolosi Foliaki
Makalea FoliakiPlayed 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 TardieuPlayed 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:

See also

References
    • Vivian Jenkins, ed. (1980). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1980-81. Queen Anne Press. p. 38. ISBN 0-362-02018-3.
  4. "1999 Rugby World Cup Qualifier Results". ESPN Scrum. 1 September 1996.
  5. "2003 Rugby World Cup Qualifier Results". ESPN Scrum. 1 September 1996.
  6. "Oceania Cup". ESPN Scrum. 6 September 2003.
  7. "Oceania Cup". ESPN Scrum. 28 August 2004.
  8. It is unclear whether this competition included any other game apart from the one between Niue and Cook Islands
  9. The competition also served as rounds 1 and 2 of Oceania qualification for 2007 Rugby World Cup.
  10. "FORU Cup 2006 / Results". espnscrum.com. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  11. "Niue Island v Papua New Guinea at Paliati". ESPN Scrum. 22 April 2008.
  12. "Niue take Oceania Cup rugby union final". ABC Radio Australia. 1 September 2008. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008.
  13. Crucial qualifiers IRB. (2009).
  14. PNG claim Oceania Cup IRB. (2011).
  15. "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.
  16. "Post Match Review ORC 2015 Final". Oceania Rugby. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  17. "Tahiti take home Oceania Rugby Cup". Oceania Rugby. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  18. "Pupuks win 2019 Oceania Cup". Post-Courrier. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  19. World Rugby.org (20 April 2015). "World Rugby Rankings". Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  20. Irene Watt (2 April 2012). "Enrique TOPO Rodríguez talks rugby". Retrieved 22 April 2015.


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