Mark Tele'a

Mark Tele'a
Tele'a representing New Zealand during the 2024 Rugby Championship
Full nameMark Evander Tele'a
Date of birth (1996-12-06) 6 December 1996 (age 27)
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight94 kg (207 lb; 14 st 11 lb)
SchoolMassey High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Current team North Harbour, Blues
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2019, 2022– North Harbour 35 (60)
2020– Blues 67 (175)
2020–2021 Tasman 14 (20)
Correct as of 26 October 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022– New Zealand 17 (60)
Correct as of 2 November 2024
Medal record
Men's rugby union
Representing  New Zealand
Rugby World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2023 France Team competition

Mark Evander Tele'a (born 6 December 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Blues in Super Rugby and the New Zealand national team.[1][2][3][4][5]

Club career

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After showing promising form for North Harbour during the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup season, Tele'a was named in the Blues squad for the 2020 Super Rugby season. Tele'a started the campaign as the first choice left wing for the Blues. Tele'a rewarded the faith of Blues staff, impressing with his early season form. Tele'a scored 3 tries during a Round 2 fixture, as the Blues defeated the Waratahs 32-12 in rainy conditions in Newcastle. Tele'a crossed again in Round 4 vs the Bulls in Pretoria, scoring impressively to dot the ball down as two defenders forced him into touch. He continued his good form in Super Rugby Aotearoa and in mid 2020 he was chosen for the North Island in the North vs South rugby union match. Tele'a was named in the Tasman squad for the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup making his debut for the Mako in Round 1 against Counties Manukau.[6] Tele'a played 11 games for the Mako in the 2020 season as they went on to win their second premiership title in a row. Tele'a had a mixed 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season but returned to form during the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition, scoring a try in the final as the Blues defeated the Highlanders 23-15. In Round 3 of the 2021 Bunnings NPC Tele'a suffered a season ending injury while playing for Tasman against Northland. The side went on to make the final before losing 23–20 to Waikato. He was part of the Blues team which won the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final.

International career

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On 30 June 2022, after an impressive 2022 Super Rugby season with the Blues, Tele'a was called in to the All Blacks squad as a replacement.

On 12 November 2022, he was named at 14 in the starting lineup to go up against Scotland. During his debut match he scored two tries.[7][8]

Tele'a was a member of the starting lineup for the All Blacks side during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. On 8 September, in the opening game of the World Cup against France, he scored two tries, with the first try of the competition within 91 seconds of the start of the game being the fastest World Cup opening try to date.[9] He was dropped by New Zealand ahead of their quarter-final match against Ireland due to a breach of team protocol.[10][11] He returned for their semi-final clash against Argentina.[12][13] He also featured in the grand final, which the All Blacks narrowly lost to the Springboks by a single point.[14][15]

Tele'a was awarded World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year at the conclusion of the World Cup.[16][17]

Personal life

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He qualified for three countries as Tele'a’s father is a Xhosa South African while his mother is Samoan.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Mark Telea". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Hard work edict for Blues 2020 squad" (Press release). Blues. 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Mark Telea". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Investec Super Rugby class of 2020 announced". Super Rugby NZ. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Mark Telea". blues.rugby. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Mark Telea". mako.nz. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Telea double helps the All Blacks home at Murrayfield". allblacks.com. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Telea double sees All Blacks hold off feisty Scotland challenge". Reuters. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  9. ^ Michael Cantillon. "Match Report France 27-13 New Zealand". Sky Sports. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  10. ^ McLaughlin, Luke (12 October 2023). "All Blacks drop Mark Telea against Ireland for disciplinary issue". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Mark Telea dropped by New Zealand for Ireland Rugby World Cup quarter-final due to disciplinary breach". Sky Sports. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  12. ^ Morton, Finn (18 October 2023). "Mark Telea returns as All Blacks name team for World Cup semi-final". www.rugbypass.com. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  13. ^ Hinton, Marc (18 October 2023). "Rugby World Cup: Errant wing Mark Telea returns to All Blacks lineup for semifinal". Stuff. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  14. ^ Kitson, Robert (28 October 2023). "South Africa beat New Zealand to win men's Rugby World Cup final". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  15. ^ Cantillon, Michael (29 October 2023). "New Zealand 11-12 South Africa: Handre Pollard kicks Springboks to Rugby World Cup triumph after Sam Cane red card". Sky Sports. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Ardie Savea named World Rugby Men's Player of the Year 2023". www.world.rugby. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  17. ^ Sutton, Harry (1 November 2023). "Looking back on the All Blacks Unforgettable RWC Highlights". allblacks.com. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  18. ^ Adams, Mariette (11 November 2022). "South African-qualified wing to debut for All Blacks". The South African. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
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