Lopeti Timani

Lopeti Timani
Timani representing Australia in 2017.
Date of birth (1990-09-28) 28 September 1990 (age 34)
Place of birthNavutoka, Tonga
Height1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight122 kg (269 lb; 19 st 3 lb)
SchoolTonga College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker, Number 8
Current team Cardiff
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2013 Waratahs 19 (0)
2014–2018 Rebels 52 (30)
2014−2017 Melbourne Rising 19 (35)
2018–2021 La Rochelle 27 (5)
2021–2022 Toulon 12 (5)
2022– Cardiff 26 (10)
Correct as of 21 June 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2017 Australia 12 (5)
2021– Tonga 5 (0)
Correct as of 21 June 2023
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2021 Tonga 1
Correct as of 21 June 2023

Lopeti Timani (born 28 September 1990) is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for United Rugby Championship club Cardiff and the Tonga national team. [1]

Early life

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Lopeti Timani was born in the Tongan village of Navutoka. His older brothers Sione Timani and Sitaleki Timani are both international rugby players.[2]

He attended Tonga College 'Atele on Tonga. In 2008 he was selected for Tonga's under-20s rugby world championship team at the age of 17, but could not play because of the minimum age limit of 18 imposed by the International Rugby Board.[3]

At age 18 he moved to Australia and switched codes, playing rugby league for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL's Toyota Cup competition in 2009 and 2010.[3][4]

Professional career

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In 2011, Timani returned to rugby union, joining the Junior Waratahs professional squad where he played in the Pacific Rugby Cup. He played for the Southern Districts Rugby Club in the Shute Shield, where he developed his ability to play at lock in addition to the back row.[2]

He signed an extended player squad contract with the Waratahs for the 2012 season,[2] and made his Super Rugby debut against the Reds in round one.[5] He played against the British & Irish Lions in 2013.[6]

Timani signed with the Melbourne Rebels for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.[7][8][9]

In 2016, Timani debuted for Australia against Argentina in Perth before getting his run on debut against Argentina at Twickenham Stadium in London.[10][11] This was seen as Timani's break out game as he continued as starting no.8 for his next 4 appearances.[12][13]

Timani recommitted to Australia Rugby until 2019 turning down lucrative offers form Europe.[14]

In August 2018, Timani travels to France to join Top 14 side La Rochelle ahead of the 2018-19 season.[15] Lopeti played for La Rochelle for the 2018-2019, 2019-2020 & 2020-2021 seasons. La Rochelle made the final of the European Challenge Cup & the semi-final of the Top 14 in 2018-2019 season. In the 2020-2021 season La Rochelle made the final of the European Championship Cup & the final of the Top 14.

Timani has signed with Toulon in the Top 14 for the 2021-2022 season.[16]

In June Timani debuted for the Tonga sevens team at the Monaco Sevens tournament alongside Malakai Fekitoa, transferring his international affiliation from Australia to Tonga.[17] On 6 November 2021 Timani made his test debut for Tonga in a 69-3 defeat by England as part of the 2021 Autumn Nations Series[18]

On 27 April 2022, Timani and Cardiff Rugby confirmed that the number-8 will play for the URC team from the 2022-23 season onwards.[19]

Career statistics

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Club summary

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Year Team Played Start Sub Tries Cons Pens Drop Points Yel Red
2012 Waratahs 14 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2013 Waratahs 5 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014 Rebels 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015 Rebels 15 15 0 4 0 0 0 20 0 0
2016 Rebels 12 12 0 2 0 0 0 10 1 0
2017 Rebels 9 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2018 Rebels 12 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 69 46 23 6 0 0 0 30 2 0

as of 15 July 2018 [20]

References

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  1. ^ "Lopeti Timani". Stade Rochelais. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "2012 Extended Playing Squad announced". nswrugby.com.au. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  3. ^ a b Guinness, Rupert (1 February 2009). "Tongan powerhouse in sights of NRL clubs as Waratahs put up the no vacancy sign". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Lopeti Timani". melbournerebels.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  5. ^ Payten, Iain (28 March 2012). "Feeding the Waratahs 'Bruise Brothers' Sitaleki and Lopeti Timani is a full time job". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  6. ^ Palmer, Bryn (15 June 2013). "Lions 2013: NSW Waratahs 17–47 British and Irish Lions". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Rebels sign Lopeti Timani". Rebels Media Unit (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. 6 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  8. ^ Pandaram, Jamie (7 May 2013). "Wallabies hopeful Lopeti Timani decides not to join brother Sitaleki in France". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  9. ^ Watts, John (21 February 2014). "Contenders: Backrow" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  10. ^ "Timani strikes Gold on debut". rugby.com.au. 19 September 2016. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017.
  11. ^ Beth Newman (7 October 2016). "Timani to start, young props get Twickenham nod". rugby.com.au. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  12. ^ Beth Newman (2 December 2016). "Timani returns as Wallabies upsize for England clash". rugby.com.au. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  13. ^ Tucker, Jim (12 September 2016). "Hitman's rapid rise a hair-raising tale". The Courier Mail.
  14. ^ "Media Releases".
  15. ^ "La Rochelle's 4 biggest new season signing". Rugby Pass. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  16. ^ Suman, Clément (14 June 2021). "Un international irlandais, Timani, un Fidjien : le recrutement du RC Toulon officialisé". Le Rugbynistère (in French). Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Malakai Fekitoa to captain Tonga 7s". RNZ. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  18. ^ "England claim 11-try win against Tonga". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Cardiff sign Lopeti Timani ahead of 2022-23". Cardiffrugby.
  20. ^ "Player Statistics". its rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
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