Taione Vea

Taione Vea (born 1 December 1988) is a former Tonga rugby union player who most recently played for Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership, and represented the Tonga national team on six occasions in 2013.

Taione Vea
Birth nameTaione Vea
Date of birth (1988-12-01) 1 December 1988
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight126 kg (19 st 12 lb)
SchoolWestlake Boys High School
Occupation(s)Former Professional Rugby Player
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2014
2014–2015
2015–2016		 Wasps
London Welsh
Newcastle Falcons		 16
23
24		 (5)
(10)
(5)
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2013 North Harbour 16 (0)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 Tonga 6 (0)

Club career

Vea first joined the New Zealand outfit North Harbour, in 2010 to compete in the ITM Cup campaigns. After three years, he moved to England as he was signed by Wasps ahead of the 2013-14 season.[1] On 11 June 2014, Vea signed for newly promoted side London Welsh ahead of the 2014-15 season.[2] On 17 March 2015, Vea signed for Newcastle Falcons for the upcoming 2015-16 season.[3] Due to a serious spinal injury he suffered during the Aviva Premiership game against Sale Sharks on 2 September 2016, Vea was unfortunately forced to retire from rugby.[4]

International career

Vea made his international debut for Tonga, where he started in the 2013 IRB Pacific Nations Cup defeating Japan 27-17.[5] His last test appearance came to the 2013 Autumn Internationals where they were defeated by Wales 17-7.[6]

He was selected again for Tonga for the 2014 Autumn Internationals.[7]

References
  1. "Wasps sign Tonga international Taione Vea". BBC Sport. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  2. "Tonga's Taione Vea leads six-strong influx at promoted London Welsh". The Guardian. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  3. "Newcastle Falcons sign TOnga prop Taione Vea from London Welsh". BBC Sport. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  4. "Vea forced to retire". www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  5. "Tonga 27-17 Japan, 2013 Pacific National Cup". ESPN scrum.
  6. "Wales 17-7 Tonga, 2013 Autumn Internationals". ESPN scrum.
  7. "Tonga squad announced for November". Planet Rugby. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
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