Tonga Lea'aetoa (born 4 March 1977 in

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

) is a retired New Zealand-Tongan

rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

player who last played for

Bayonne Bayonne () is a city in southwestern France near the France–Spain border, Spanish border. It is a communes of France, commune and one of two subprefectures in France, subprefectures in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques departments of France, departm ...

in the French

Top 14 The Top 14 () is a professional rugby union club competition that is played in France. Created in 1892, the Top 14 is at the top of the national league system operated by the National Rugby League (France), France National Rugby League, also ...

. Lea'aetoa's position of choice was Tighthead

prop A prop, formally known as a (theatrical) property, is an object actors use on stage or screen during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinct ...

. Lea'aetoa's parents came from Tonga, he spent his childhood in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

in Manly,

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

. It was when he returned to New Zealand to attend boarding school at

Auckland Grammar School Auckland Grammar School (often simplified to Auckland Grammar, or Grammar), established in 1869, is a State school, state, Day school, day and Boarding school, boarding secondary school for Single-sex education, boys in Auckland, New Zealand. ...

that rugby union took over his sporting career at the age of 16. He started out as a centre, then played at full back and as a No 8 before ending up as a prop. The unusual shift of position was due to a change in his metabolism that saw him put on 20 kilogrammes between the ages of 17 and 18. During his time in Sydney he spent several years at the

Northern Suburbs Rugby Club Northern Suburbs Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based on Sydney's Lower North Shore, that was formed in 1900 from the merger of the Pirates and Wallaroos clubs. The club competes in the Shute Shield competition run by the New South ...

. In 2003 he was named to the Tongan squad for the Rugby World Cup. Lea'aetoa arrived in England in July 2006 with a reputation as one of the most talented and versatile prop forwards in Europe. He is one of those rare individuals that can play effectively on either side of the front row, but more often would play at Tighthead His skill and versatility earned him 19 caps for his country to date. He was ever present for London Irish in the 2009–10 season, being the only player to play in all 31 games, a feat that saw him receive the club's 'Players' Player of the Season Award'. In 2014 he was named to the Pacific Barbarians for their match against Tonga. In 2015 he joined the

Hunters Hill Rugby Club The Hunters Hill Rugby Club, is an Australian amateur rugby union club based in Hunters Hill, New South Wales. The club currently fields six teams in the NSW Suburban Rugby Union competition, known as "Subbies". Hunters Hill was formed in 1892, ...

References

External links

RC Toulonnais profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leaaetoa, Tonga 1977 births Expatriate rugby union players in France People educated at Auckland Grammar School Living people New Zealand rugby union players Rugby union props Tonga international rugby union players Pacific Islanders rugby union players Tongan expatriate rugby union players in Australia New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in England Tongan expatriate sportspeople in England Tongan expatriate sportspeople in France New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Australia New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in France New Zealand sportspeople of Tongan descent London Irish players 2003 Rugby World Cup players Northern Suburbs Rugby Club players Section Paloise players RC Toulon players Aviron Bayonnais players