Michael Fatialofa
Date of birth (1992-09-14) 14 September 1992
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight118 kg (18 st 8 lb; 260 lb)
SchoolMount Albert Grammar School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Worcester Warriors
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2014 Southland 36 (0)
2015−2018 Auckland 24 (5)
2016−2018 Hurricanes 38 (10)
2018− Worcester Warriors 0 (0)
Correct as of 19 November 2018
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010 New Zealand Schools 3

Michael Fatialofa (born 14 September 1992) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for Worcester Warriors in the Premiership.[1]

Early career

Born in Auckland, Fatialofa was educated at Mount Albert Grammar School in his hometown where he played first XV rugby for 3 years and helped them to lift the Auckland Schools title in 2010. Rated as one of the top New Zealand lock prospects at the time, it came as something of a surprise when he opted to move to the country's far south to play club rugby with the Invercargill Rugby Club (Blues) in Southland after he'd finished high school.[2]

Senior career

He spent the first 4 years of his senior career playing provincial rugby for Southland with whom he racked up 36 appearances. His first season with the Stags saw him play 3 times as they were relegated from the ITM Cup Premiership. The men from Invercargill finished 4th on the Championship log for the next three seasons which saw them qualify for the promotion playoffs, however, each time they lost at the semi-final stage to the eventual champions, going down to Counties Manukau, Tasman and Manawatu respectively. In 2013 and 2014, he was a key figure in Southland's line up, playing all 22 matches across both seasons.

He moved back home to Auckland ahead of the 2015 ITM Cup with the switch seeing him join one of New Zealand's traditional rugby powerhouses.[2] He played 11 times in his first season with the blue and whites and scored his first ever provincial try to help his new side finish 2nd on the Premiership log and reach the playoff final where they would lose out 25-23 to Canterbury.

2016 would not be such a happy year for Auckland as they finished up 5th on the Premiership log, missing out on the playoffs altogether, Fatialofa himself played in 8 of their 10 matches during the season.[3]

Four years of toil with Southland and an impressive season with Auckland saw him finally earn a Super Rugby contract with the Wellington-based Hurricanes ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season.[4][5] His first year in New Zealand's capital turned out to be a roaring success as he formed an impressive second row partnership with Vaea Fifita as the 'Canes, beaten finalists in 2015, went one better in 2016 and were crowned Super Rugby champions following a 20-3 victory over South African side, the Lions in the tournament final. Fatialofa played 15 times during his debut Super Rugby campaign.[3]

On 28 March 2018, Fatialofa signed for England club Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership on a two-year contract from the 2018-19 season.[6] On 4 January 2020 he suffered a serious neck injury in a match against Saracens. He underwent surgery, and left intensive care on 23 January[7] after which he was told to prepare for life in a wheelchair.[8] In fact he was able to walk unaided by 21 March 2020;[9] a recovery his wife described as miraculous: "proof that God is never limited to human wisdom."[10]

International career

He was a New Zealand Schools representative in 2010.[11][12]

On 5 November 2016, he featured for the Barbarians in their 31-31 draw against South Africa at Wembley Stadium. He played the entire 80 minutes in the number 5 jersey in a side containing his Hurricanes team-mates, Reggie Goodes and Brad Shields.[13][14]

Career Honours

Hurricanes

Super Rugby Statistics

As of 24 January 2017[3]
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
2016Hurricanes151419930000000
Total151419930000000

Personal life

Fatialofa is a committed Christian. He is married to Tatiana: he and his wife attend Freedom Church in Worcester.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Michael Fatialofa: Worcester Warriors sign New Zealand-born lock on two-year contract". BBC Sport. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Familiar face of Michael Fatialofa to debut for Auckland against the Stags". The Southland Times. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "Michael Fatialofa itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "Rugby: Fatialofa to be fitted for his blazer". New Zealand Herald. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "Hurricanes' 2016 squad features nine new faces, full of X-Factor". TVNZ. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  6. ↑ "Michael Fatialofa: Worcester Warriors sign New Zealand-born lock on two-year contract". BBC Sport. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  7. ↑ "Michael Fatialofa: Injured Worcester Warriors forward moved out of intensive care". BBC Sport. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  8. ↑ Schofield, Daniel (5 July 2020). "Exclusive: Michael Fatialofa faces six-figure medical bill following recovery from a severe spinal injury". The Telegraph.
  9. ↑ "Michael Fatialofa: 'Miracle' Worcester lock walks unaided after serious neck injury". BBC Sport. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Christian rugby star walks unaided in 'miracle' 10 week recovery from neck injury - Premier Christian News | Headlines, Breaking News, Comment & Analysis".
  11. ↑ "Michael Fatialofa All Blacks Player Profile". All Blacks.com. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "2010 New Zealand Schools squad announced". All Blacks.com. 6 September 2010. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  13. ↑ "Former All Black Andy Ellis to skipper Barbarians against Springboks". Rugby Heaven. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  14. ↑ "Late van Rensburg try saves South Africa blushes". ESPN Scrum. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
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