Uini Atonio

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Uini Atonio
Uini Atonio 2014-01-26.jpg
Birth nameUini Atonio
Date of birth (1990-03-26) 26 March 1990 (age 31)
Place of birthTimaru, Canterbury Region, New Zealand
Height1.97 m (6 ft 5+1⁄2 in)[1]
Weight152 kg (23 st 13 lb; 335 lb)[1]
SchoolWesley College, Auckland
Rugby union career
Position(s) Tighthead Prop, Second Row
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011– La Rochelle 222 (45)
Correct as of 2 April 2021
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–11 Counties Manukau ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009
2014–		 Samoa U20
France		 5
40		 (0)
(0)
Correct as of 6 February 2022

Uini Atonio ([wi.ni a.to.niː.o]; born 26 March 1990) is a New Zealand-born professional rugby union footballer of Samoan heritage who represents France internationally.[2] His usual position is tighthead prop. He currently plays for French club La Rochelle.[1] BBC named him as the biggest forward in 2015 World Cup.[3]

Early life[]

Uini (pronounced Weeny) Atonio was born in Timaru, New Zealand to Samoan parents.[4] He attended Wesley College, Auckland, where he played rugby for the 1st XV and was invited to join the Counties Manukau rugby academy.[5][6]

He represented Samoa Under 20s at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.[4][7]

Atonio joined the Counties Manukau ITM Cup squad in 2010.

France[]

Atonio was recruited by Patrice Collazo to join La Rochelle for the 2011–12 Pro D2 season.[1] In 2014, he completed the required three years of residency to qualify for France internationally, and was included in the 30-man France squad for the 2014 November internationals.[2] He made his debut for France in their 40–15 win over Fiji on 8 November 2014.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "Player profile". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b "French selectors look to foreign legion". ESPN Scrum. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  3. ^ "How big will rugby players get?". BBC News.
  4. ^ a b Freeman, Rich (12 June 2009). "Larger than life Atonio aims for JWC semi". IRB. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  5. ^ Savage, Jared (6 May 2007). "Rugby: Weeny the sleeping giant". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  6. ^ "R-E-S-P-E-C-T!". The Aucklander. 28 August 2008. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Samoa Under20s to Face Japan". Samoa Rugby Union. 7 June 2009. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.

External links[]

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