Isaia Toeava
Encyclopedia
Isaia "Ice" Toeava is a professional rugby union
player in New Zealand
.
, he played alongside Taniela Moa
in the school's First XV rugby team. He represented New Zealand U-19 where he was named the IRB's
Under-19 2005 player of the year. He played at second-five for New Zealand Under 19.
in the Sevens rugby
and In 2004 Toeava played at second five for the Auckland championship-winning Marist Under 21 team, coached by Peter Tubberty. He was a shock selection in the All Blacks
2005 end-of-year tour at only 19 years of age and having previously no Super 14 experience, and limited Provincial
experience with just eight games for Auckland, and only a solitary started at first-five against Northland. His first game for the All Blacks was not a success, and his continuing selection for the team has been one of the most controversial aspects of Graham Henry's time as coach.
Since then, he has played his first-class rugby mainly at Centre, Wing and Fullback although he has played first-five in the age groups. He currently plays his provincial rugby for Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup
. He was drafted to the Hurricanes
in the 2006 Super 14 season, but was selected to play for the Blues for the 2007 season.
He was instrumental in the success of the Blues in the 2007 Super 14
season, scoring 4 tries and setting up many other tries from the outside centre position. He was later nominated for Rebel Sport Super 14 Player of the Year at the 2007 Steinlager Rugby Awards. He is one of several players to be played at centre for the All Blacks
over the last two seasons, a position which has seen numerous changes because of Tana Umaga's retirement and Conrad Smith's injuries.
A talented exponent of the Sevens game, Toeava has the skills and athleticism to play anywhere from first five-eighths out. He played at fullback for the Hurricanes in the 2006 Rebel Sport Super 14 – he was the only draft player, from Auckland, in the Hurricanes squad – and is predicted to have a bright future as a penetrative midfield back.His outstanding form at Centre for Blues in the 2007 Super 14 saw his recall to the All Blacks.
In 2010 Toeava was selected for the Grand Slam All Blacks squad. He was criticized for as a reason for the All Blacks defeat, along with Stephen Donald
, to the Wallabies. However two weeks later he gained a starting position at right wing where he had a good game which included line breaks and a key role in two tries.
Toeava played the final two games of the 2011 Tri-Nations
tournament, but failed to score a single point. He then was selected to play for the All Black's
at the 2011 Rugby World Cup
. He played the first game and he had a try disallowed as his foot touched the sideline.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Early career
Toeava attended De La Salle College, Mangere EastDe La Salle College, Mangere East
De La Salle College is an integrated Catholic secondary boys' school Auckland, New Zealand. Established in 1953 by the De La Salle Brothers, it continues to educate young men in the Catholic faith and Christian values. Students are encouraged to develop every aspect of their person and a strong...
, he played alongside Taniela Moa
Taniela Moa
Taniela Moa is a rugby footballer. He currently plays rugby union for the Chiefs. He started playing for Auckland for 2 to three years but then moved to play for Bay of Plenty in the 2010 Air NZ cup competition also known as NPC or ITM cup. His main position is scrum-half but he can also play in...
in the school's First XV rugby team. He represented New Zealand U-19 where he was named the IRB's
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
Under-19 2005 player of the year. He played at second-five for New Zealand Under 19.
Professional Career and the All Blacks
Toeava has also represented New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in the Sevens rugby
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
and In 2004 Toeava played at second five for the Auckland championship-winning Marist Under 21 team, coached by Peter Tubberty. He was a shock selection in the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
2005 end-of-year tour at only 19 years of age and having previously no Super 14 experience, and limited Provincial
Air New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
experience with just eight games for Auckland, and only a solitary started at first-five against Northland. His first game for the All Blacks was not a success, and his continuing selection for the team has been one of the most controversial aspects of Graham Henry's time as coach.
Since then, he has played his first-class rugby mainly at Centre, Wing and Fullback although he has played first-five in the age groups. He currently plays his provincial rugby for Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup
Air New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
. He was drafted to the Hurricanes
Hurricanes (Super rugby franchise)
The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition...
in the 2006 Super 14 season, but was selected to play for the Blues for the 2007 season.
He was instrumental in the success of the Blues in the 2007 Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
season, scoring 4 tries and setting up many other tries from the outside centre position. He was later nominated for Rebel Sport Super 14 Player of the Year at the 2007 Steinlager Rugby Awards. He is one of several players to be played at centre for the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
over the last two seasons, a position which has seen numerous changes because of Tana Umaga's retirement and Conrad Smith's injuries.
A talented exponent of the Sevens game, Toeava has the skills and athleticism to play anywhere from first five-eighths out. He played at fullback for the Hurricanes in the 2006 Rebel Sport Super 14 – he was the only draft player, from Auckland, in the Hurricanes squad – and is predicted to have a bright future as a penetrative midfield back.His outstanding form at Centre for Blues in the 2007 Super 14 saw his recall to the All Blacks.
In 2010 Toeava was selected for the Grand Slam All Blacks squad. He was criticized for as a reason for the All Blacks defeat, along with Stephen Donald
Stephen Donald
Stephen Donald is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays at First five-eighth or Second five-eighth. Despite an international career that had not lived up to expectations, Donald, aka 'The Beaver', kicked the winning penalty in the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 for New Zealand...
, to the Wallabies. However two weeks later he gained a starting position at right wing where he had a good game which included line breaks and a key role in two tries.
Toeava played the final two games of the 2011 Tri-Nations
2011 Tri Nations Series
The 2011 Tri Nations Series was the sixteenth annual Tri Nations rugby union series between the national rugby union teams of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, respectively nicknamed the All Blacks, Wallabies, and Springboks. It was also the last series in which only three teams...
tournament, but failed to score a single point. He then was selected to play for the All Black's
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
at the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
. He played the first game and he had a try disallowed as his foot touched the sideline.
New Zealand Representative Teams
- New Zealand Secondary Schools in 2003
- New Zealand Sevens rugbyRugby sevensRugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
in 2005 - New Zealand Under 19 in 2005
- All Blacks in 2005-2007,2010
Career Notes
- Played every match in his first Super 14 season for the Hurricanes.
- Scored two tries against Northland in his only start of the season for Auckland in the 2005 Air New Zealand NPC.
- Received the 2005 IRB Under 19 Player of the Year award announced in November 2005 in Paris.
- Scored 62 points in four matches for New Zealand Under 19 at the IRB Under 19 World Championships in South Africa in 2005, including five tries and 37 points from the boot.