Maurie Fa'asavalu
Encyclopedia
Maurie Fa'asavalu is a Samoan rugby union
player who formerly played rugby league
for St Helens. He was recently picked in the Great Britain rugby league squad after living in England for 4 years. He returned to rugby union in October 2010, having signed for Harlequins
for the 2010/2011 season.
at the 2003 Rugby World Cup
.
He was signed by the then St Helens coach Ian Millward
in the winter of 2003 after a series of outstanding performances playing at flanker for Samoa in the 2003 Rugby World Cup
. On his return to rugby union, he also featured in the 2011 Rugby World Cup
.
Harlequins
have managed to lured the Great Britain Rugby League and Samoan rugby union
international back to the fifteen man game. "A player of Maurie's talent and ability will be a great asset to Quins," said Quins' Director of Rugby Conor O'Shea, "I have no doubt that he will be able to make an immediate impact on returning to union. He will bring experience and a new dimension to our options and is exactly the type of person we want at this club."
in a 24 - 14 victory at Knowsley Road
. Fa'asavalu took some time to adjust to rugby league
, but developed into an important part of the St. Helens squad in 2006. He was however used primarily as an impact player, starting most games from the interchange bench.
Fas'asavalu was unlucky not to receive the Lance Todd Trophy for his performance in the 2006 Challenge Cup victory, where he scored a try in the 2006 and his performance against Huddersfield Giants
earned widespread praise.
St. Helens fans were treated to Fa'asavalu's victory dance in both the Challenge Cup Final and the Grand Final for Super League XI. His block busting runs and inimitable try celebrations saw him develop a real following on the terraces at Knowsley Road.
In total he scored 10 tries in 28 games during the 2006 season,
followed by 9 tries in 30 games in the 2007 season.
He played in the 2007 Super League Grand Final, the 2008 Super League Grand Final and the 2009 Super League Grand Final defeats all against the Leeds Rhinos
.
He missed a major part of the 2010 season after being injured. His last game for St. Helens was in the home win against Leeds Rhinos.
He was named in the England squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
.
He played 3 games for the England team in the World Cup, in the process breaking his hand in the defeat against Australia.
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
player who formerly played rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
for St Helens. He was recently picked in the Great Britain rugby league squad after living in England for 4 years. He returned to rugby union in October 2010, having signed for Harlequins
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
for the 2010/2011 season.
Rugby union career
Fa'asavalu played for SamoaSamoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
at the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
.
He was signed by the then St Helens coach Ian Millward
Ian Millward
Ian Millward is an Australian rugby league coach and former player. Millward is currently the head coach at Super League side Castleford....
in the winter of 2003 after a series of outstanding performances playing at flanker for Samoa in the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
. On his return to rugby union, he also featured in 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...
.
Harlequins
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
have managed to lured the Great Britain Rugby League and Samoan rugby union
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
international back to the fifteen man game. "A player of Maurie's talent and ability will be a great asset to Quins," said Quins' Director of Rugby Conor O'Shea, "I have no doubt that he will be able to make an immediate impact on returning to union. He will bring experience and a new dimension to our options and is exactly the type of person we want at this club."
Rugby league career
Fa'asavalu made his debut on 13 March 2004 against Leeds RhinosLeeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
in a 24 - 14 victory at Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road was a stadium located in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside. It was the home of St Helens RLFC from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hosted Liverpool FC Reserves...
. Fa'asavalu took some time to adjust to rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
, but developed into an important part of the St. Helens squad in 2006. He was however used primarily as an impact player, starting most games from the interchange bench.
Fas'asavalu was unlucky not to receive the Lance Todd Trophy for his performance in the 2006 Challenge Cup victory, where he scored a try in the 2006 and his performance against Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
earned widespread praise.
St. Helens fans were treated to Fa'asavalu's victory dance in both the Challenge Cup Final and the Grand Final for Super League XI. His block busting runs and inimitable try celebrations saw him develop a real following on the terraces at Knowsley Road.
In total he scored 10 tries in 28 games during the 2006 season,
followed by 9 tries in 30 games in the 2007 season.
He played in the 2007 Super League Grand Final, the 2008 Super League Grand Final and the 2009 Super League Grand Final defeats all against the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
.
He missed a major part of the 2010 season after being injured. His last game for St. Helens was in the home win against Leeds Rhinos.
Representative career
On 27 October 2007, Fa'asavalu scored on his debut for Great Britain against New Zealand in Huddersfield, helping the British team to a 20–14 victory. Five minutes after he came on as a substitute in the 18th minute, Fa'asavalu used his great stature to break through 3 New Zealand players to score the try.He was named in the England squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
.
He played 3 games for the England team in the World Cup, in the process breaking his hand in the defeat against Australia.