Finau Maka

Finau Maka (born 10 July 1977) started his playing career for Auckland Rugby Union and NZ age group teams. He played over 50 games for Auckland NPC Team and the Hurricanes, Blues and Highlanders before leaving to play for the Stade Toulousain club in French Top 14. Whilst at Toulouse he helped them win the 2003, 2005 and 2010 Heineken Cups, as a replacement in 2003 and starting in the 2005 final.[2][3] He played in two Rugby World Cups for Tonga and was one of the stars of the 2007 Rugby World Cup. In 2011 he led his country to beat France in the biggest upset in Rugby World Cup history. France went on to almost beat the All Blacks in the final.

Finau Maka
Finau Maka, Daan Human and Yann David at Stade toulousain training
Birth nameFinau Sosefo Maka
Date of birth (1977-07-10) 10 July 1977
Place of birthLongoteme, Tonga
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight242 lb (110 kg)
SchoolSacred Heart College Auckland
Notable relative(s)Isitolo Maka (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1994-95 New Zealand Schools ()
1996 NZ U19 ()
1997-98 NZ U21 ()
1996-2001 Ponsonby Rugby Club ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1997-2001 Auckland Rugby Union 58 (25)
2001–2010 Toulouse 195 (85)
2010-2011 Provence Rugby 18 (5)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
1997–98 Hurricanes 12 (15)
1999–00 Blues 13 (5)
2001 Highlanders 9 (10)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007–11 Tonga 8 (5)
2008 Pacific Islanders 1 (0)
Coaching career
Years Team
2017-2018 Dilworth XV Forward Coach
2019 G-TEC Development Forward Coach
2020-2022 Eden Premier Ast Coach[1]

In December 2012 he was convicted in France of slavery after forcing a migrant worker to live in a shed and work in conditions that equated to slavery.[4]

Rugby

Maka made his international debut in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, in Tonga's first pool game against the United States of America. He opened the scoring with a try in the second minute.[5]

In 2008 he was selected for the pacific islanders' tour of Europe.[6]

In 2011 he captained Tonga's world cup squad.[7]

Boxing

In 2014, Maka fought against David Letele for the Duco Event's Corporate World Title. The day before the fight at the weigh in both fighters got into a fight. Letele grabbed Maka on the throat pushing him back, Maka retaliated by tackling him to the ground, however the fight was broken off quickly.[8] Maka lost by TKO in the first round.[9]

References
  1. "Dilworth shock MAGS for biggest First XV win in school history". 17 May 2017.
  2. "Toulouse regain European crown". BBC. 24 May 2003. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  3. "Stade Francais 12-18 Toulouse". BBC. 22 May 2005. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  4. "Rugby player fined over 'modern slavery' case". Stuff. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  5. "Tonga savour first win in Rugby World Cup". RNZ. 14 September 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  6. "Pacific Islanders Rugby Union side named for end of year tour". RNZ. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  7. "Tonga ready for World Cup". RNZ. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  8. "Brown Buttabean unleashes on Maka during stand-off | Māori Television". Maoritelevision.com. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  9. "Boxing: Parker too powerful for Pettaway". New Zealand Herald. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2023. Dave "The Brown Buttabean Letele" knocked out former Tonga Rugby World Cup captain Finau Maka in the first round of a corporate fight.
  10. "BoxRec - Finau Maka". boxrec.com.
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