Titimaea Tafua

Fuimaono Faleomavaega Titimaea "Dicky" Tafua (born 4 October 1947) is a Samoan former rugby union prop and the former coach of Manu Samoa and the Samoa Sevens rugby team. In November 2021 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. He is the son of former MP Tafua Kalolo and the brother of former MP Tafua Maluelue Tafua.[2]

Faleomavaega Titimaea Tafua
Member of the Samoa Parliament
for Aleipata-i-Lalo
Assumed office
26 November 2021
Preceded byFiugalu Eteuati Eteuati
Personal details
Born (1947-10-04) 4 October 1947
Samoa
Political partyFa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
19??-19??
198?-198?
198?-19??		 Vaiala[1]
Marist St. Joseph
Northern Suburbs Rugby Club		 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1981-1989 Samoa 18 (4)
Coaching career
Years Team
2006-2009
2009-2011
2017-2018		  Samoa
 Samoa
 Samoa

He took up the position of coach in 2006. He is a former international for Samoa and captained the first Samoa team that played against Wales in 1989. He led Samoa to win their first Wellington sevens and Hong Kong sevens tournament in the 2006/07 season.[3] In February 2009 it was announced that Tafua would coach Manu Samoa, replacing Niko Palamo.[4][5] His term in the role expired in November 2011.[6]

In June 2014 Tafua was appointed interim coach of the Samoa Sevens.[7] The appointment was made permanent in August 2014.[8] In June 2015 his contract was not renewed.[9]

In September 2017 he was appointed Manu Samoa coach for a second time for a two-year term.[10] In September 2018 his contract was terminated early and the position was readvertised.[11][12] A subsequent claim for unfair dismissal was dismissed by the court.[13]

Political career

In October 2021 Tafua announced he would be contesting the 2021 Aleipata-Itupa-i-Lalo by-election as a candidate for the FAST Party.[14][15] He won by over 200 votes.[16]

References
  1. "The poor treatment of Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  2. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (24 October 2021). "Former Manu coach follows father's political footsteps". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  3. "Determined Samoa finally taste sevens victory". The New Zealand Herald. 5 February 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  4. "International Rugby Board - News". 3 February 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  5. "Rugby: Samoa names new coach after controversial sacking". New Zealand Herald. 3 February 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  6. "Sport: Samoa Rugby Union advertises for new coaching staff". RNZ. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  7. "Sport: Tafua appointed interim Samoa 7s coach". RNZ. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  8. "Sport: Fuimaono back as 7's coach". RNZ. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  9. "Sport: Samoa Rugby Union to appoint new sevens coaches". RNZ. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  10. "Sport: Tafua vows to restore trust within Samoan rugby". RNZ. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  11. "Sport: Manu Samoa coaching job to be readvertised". RNZ. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  12. "Sport: Manu Samoa coach unhappy with World Rugby interference". RNZ. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  13. "Samoa court dismisses civil claim by former Manu Samoa head coach". RNZ. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  14. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (12 October 2021). "F.A.S.T. unveils star recruit; by-election battles intensify". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  15. BJ Telefoni Lima (11 October 2021). "Former Manu Samoa Coach Runs under FAST Ticket for Aleipata By-Election". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  16. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (26 November 2021). "Faleomavaega sweeps Aleipata-i-Lalo seat". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 26 November 2021.


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