Uini Atonio
 | |||
| Full name | Uini Atonio | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 26 March 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Timaru, Canterbury Region, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 5 1⁄2 in)[1] | ||
| Weight | 155 kg (24 st 6 lb)[1] | ||
| School | Wesley College, Auckland | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Tighthead Prop | ||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2011– | La Rochelle | 96 | (20) |
| correct as of 25 August 2015. | |||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2010–11 | Counties Manukau | ||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2009 2014– |
Samoa U20 France |
5 20 |
(0) (0) |
| correct as of 26 November 2016. | |||
Uini Atonio ([wi.ni a.to.niː.o]; born 26 March 1990) is a New Zealand born professional rugby union footballer of Samoan heritage who represents France internationally.[2] His usual position is tighthead prop. He currently plays for French club La Rochelle.[1] BBC named him as the biggest forward in 2015 World Cup.[3]
Early life
Uini (pronounced Weeny) Atonio was born in Timaru, New Zealand to Samoan parents.[4] He attended Wesley College, Auckland, where he played rugby for the 1st XV and was invited to join the Counties Manukau rugby academy.[5][6]
He represented Samoa Under 20s at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.[4][7]
Rugby career
Atonio joined the Counties Manukau ITM Cup squad in 2010. He was recruited by Patrice Collazo to join La Rochelle for the 2011–12 Pro D2 season.[1] In 2014, he completed the required three years of residency to qualify for France internationally, and was included in the 30-man France squad for the 2014 November internationals.[2] He made his debut for France in their 40–15 win over Fiji on 8 November 2014.
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Player profile". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- 1 2 "French selectors look to foreign legion". ESPN Scrum. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ↑ "How big will rugby players get?". BBC News.
- 1 2 Freeman, Rich (12 June 2009). "Larger than life Atonio aims for JWC semi". IRB. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ↑ Savage, Jared (6 May 2007). "Rugby: Weeny the sleeping giant". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ↑ "R-E-S-P-E-C-T!". The Aucklander. 28 August 2008. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ↑ "Samoa Under20s to Face Japan". Samoa Rugby Union. 7 June 2009. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.