Sam Kaleta

Samuel Puni Kaleta, known as Sam Kaleta (born 9 March 1966 in Auckland) is a former New-Zealand born Samoan rugby union player who played also for Japan. He played as a flanker.

Sam Kaleta
Birth nameSamuel Puni Kaleta
Date of birth (1966-03-09) 9 March 1966
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1990 Kia Toa RFC ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1992–1994
1994–1997
1997–1999
19??–2004		 Ricoh[1]
Ponsonby RFC[2]
Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars
Perthshire RFC		 ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1990 Manawatu 8 (4)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1992–1993
1994–1997		 Japan
Samoa		 4
7		 (0)
(5)

Career

Kaleta graduated from Lynfield College in Auckland.[3] During his playing career, he played for the New Zealand clubs Kia Toa RFC and Ponsonby RFC,[4][5] as well as for the Japanese clubs Ricoh Black Rams[6] and Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars. In 1991 he played for the NZ Combined Services team of the New Zealand Defence Force and Police as lock. He finished his career in 2004 for Perthshire RFC.[7]

His first cap for Japan was against Hong Kong, in Seoul, on 26 September 1992, playing four matches. In 1994, Kaleta decided to play for Samoa, his country of heritage; his first cap for the Manu Samoa was in the match against Wales, at Moamoa, on 4 June 1994. He also was part of the 1995 Rugby World Cup roster, although he did not play a match during the tournament. His last cap in his career was against Fiji, in Apia, on 5 July 1997.

In 2006, Kaleta joined the staff of Perthshire RFC and took responsibility for the club's academy.[8] For some time he was the team's player-coach, even entering the field in 2008.[9]

Notes
  1. The influence of foreign players on the transformation of Japanese rugby
  2. "Samoans recover momentum to stampede Oxford". Independent.co.uk. 22 November 1995. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  3. Reidy, Jade (2013). Not Just Passing Through: the Making of Mt Roskill (2nd ed.). Auckland: Puketāpapa Local Board. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-927216-97-2. OCLC 889931177. Wikidata Q116775081.
  4. "Samoans recover momentum to stampede Oxford". The Independent. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  5. "Campbell Burnes: How the Hurricanes have found the magic loose forward formula". NZ Herald. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  6. "The influence of foreign players on the transformation of Japanese rugby" (PDF).
  7. "Today's club rugby action". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  8. "Rugby makes pitch for younger pupils". Tes. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  9. Dailyrecord.co.uk (8 March 2008). "Shire fight all the way to bitter end". Daily Record. Retrieved 29 April 2021.


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