Netani Talei
Encyclopedia
Netani Edward Talei is a Fiji
an rugby union
player. He currently plays for Edinburgh in the RaboDirect Pro12. He plays as a number eight or flanker
.
in 2006 in which they lifted the Colonial Cup
, he joined provincial stalwarts Nadroga. Talei then got the nod for the run-on team in 2006 to help Fiji defeat Samoa
23–20 in Suva
. In 2007 he was part of the 30 man Fiji squad that reached the Quarter-Finals of the Rugby World Cup
in France. He played in three pool games before picking up and injury that ruled him out for the rest of the tournament.
Worcester Warriors snapped up Fiji international
Talei during the summer, from Doncaster
. The giant back row, who has won fifteen caps for his country, signed a one-year deal at Sixways
, with an option for an extension.
In March 2008, Worcester opted to extend Talei's contract and he signed a new two-year deal which will keep him at Sixways
until 2010.
In May 2010, Edinburgh announced that they had signed Talei on a three year contract.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an rugby union
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. He currently plays for Edinburgh in the RaboDirect Pro12. He plays as a number eight or flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
.
Career
He represented the Fiji U21s in 2004 after earlier studying at Marist Brothers High School (Fiji) and two years at Welsey College (NZ). After his performance with the StallionsCoastal Stallions
Coastal Stallions are a Fijian rugby union team. They compete in Fiji's premier rugby union competition, the Colonial Cup. They are the reigning champions of Fiji rugby union. The franchise area covers Nadroga-Navosa, Namosi, Serua and Malolo.-History:...
in 2006 in which they lifted the Colonial Cup
Colonial Cup
The Colonial Cup was the second highest level of competition within Fijian rugby union and was intended to be a stepping stone for local players into international rugby union...
, he joined provincial stalwarts Nadroga. Talei then got the nod for the run-on team in 2006 to help Fiji defeat Samoa
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...
23–20 in Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
. In 2007 he was part of the 30 man Fiji squad that reached the Quarter-Finals of the Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
in France. He played in three pool games before picking up and injury that ruled him out for the rest of the tournament.
Worcester Warriors snapped up Fiji international
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
Talei during the summer, from Doncaster
Doncaster R.F.C.
Doncaster Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club representing the town of Doncaster. The first XV are known as the Doncaster Knights, and play in the RFU Championship...
. The giant back row, who has won fifteen caps for his country, signed a one-year deal at Sixways
Sixways Stadium
Sixways Stadium is a stadium in Worcester, England. It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and is the home stadium of Worcester Rugby Football Club. The stadium is able to hold 12,068. It opened in 1975 and is located off junction 6 of the M5 motorway, hence the name Sixways.An...
, with an option for an extension.
In March 2008, Worcester opted to extend Talei's contract and he signed a new two-year deal which will keep him at Sixways
Sixways Stadium
Sixways Stadium is a stadium in Worcester, England. It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and is the home stadium of Worcester Rugby Football Club. The stadium is able to hold 12,068. It opened in 1975 and is located off junction 6 of the M5 motorway, hence the name Sixways.An...
until 2010.
In May 2010, Edinburgh announced that they had signed Talei on a three year contract.