Sitaleki Timani
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Profile
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Height:
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203cm
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Weight:
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121kg
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Date Of Birth:
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19/09/1986
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Place of Birth:
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Navutoka TON
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Rugby Career
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Senior Club:
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Southern Districts
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Stats
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Provincial Rugby Caps:
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56 [Western Force 3, Brumbies 12, HSBC Waratahs 41]
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Provincial Rugby Points:
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30 (6t), [Brumbies 10 (2t), HSBC Waratahs 20 (4t)]
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Provincial Rugby Debut:
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2008 v Sharks [Western Force]
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Super Rugby Caps:
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52 [Western Force 3, Brumbies 8, HSBC Waratahs 41]
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Super Rugby Points:
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25 (5t), [Brumbies 5 (1t), HSBC Waratahs 20 (4t)]
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Super Rugby Debut:
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2008 v Sharks [Western Force]
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Test Rugby Caps:
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10
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Test Rugby Debut:
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2011 v Samoa
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Since returning to the HSBC Waratahs for a second season in 2012, Sitaleki Timani has gone on to become a powerful new force on the international stage.
After a stint in Japan with the Canon Eagles, Sitaleki returned to the HSBC Waratahs squad in 2012 in rampaging form. The big second rower stamped his authority on the field with a series of bruising performances, and his impressive form saw him rewarded with inclusion in Robbie Deans’ 30-man squad for the inaugural Rugby Championship.
From there, the former Tongan Schoolboys football goal-keeper made rapid strides, becoming a first choice selection in the Qantas Wallabies forward pack and earning 10 Test caps. With a promising Super Rugby season ahead, there is little doubt that will be just as much of a force against the British & Irish Lions in 2013.
But life almost took a much different tangent for the 25 year old. Born and raised in Tonga, Sitaleki grew up with aspirations of playing goalkeeper for the Tongan national soccer team. Incredibly, the imposing second rower had never even seen a game of rugby until the age of 17, when he watched the 2003 Rugby World Cup final at a neighbour’s house.
But from there he picked up the game quickly, and his rare mix of size and skill saw him immediately rewarded with a scholarship to the prestigious Auckland Grammar School. After two years in New Zealand, Timani started his representative rugby career with the Perth Spirit in 2007. His form in the ARC saw him signed to the Western Force the following season, where he made his Super Rugby debut against the Sharks. Sitaleki moved to Canberra for the 2009 tournament, and appeared nine times in his first season with the Brumbies. After a frustrating 2010, where he failed to get on the field, Sitaleki signed a developmental contract with the HSBC Junior Waratahs squad.
A strong pre-season saw the giant forward earn a place on the bench for the opening game of the year and he never looked back, scoring a match-winning try with nine seconds left against his former team mates, the Brumbies. Not only did Timani force his way into the HSBC Waratahs starting XV by the second half of the year, he went on to earn selection in the national squad and made his Wallaby debut in the opening Test of the season against Samoa.
He lives with his brother, fellow HSBC Waratah Lopeti, and fiancée Angela in Brighton Le Sands.
Updated June 3, 2013