Sione Mafileo

Sione Tulimaiau Mafileo (born 14 April 1993) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who currently plays as a prop for North Harbour in the ITM Cup and the Chiefs in the international Super Rugby competition.[1][2][3][4]

Sione Mafileo
Full nameSione Tulimaiau Mafileo
Date of birth (1993-04-14) 14 April 1993
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight128 kg (282 lb; 20 st 2 lb)
SchoolWesley College
St Kentigern College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team North Harbour, Chiefs
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014– North Harbour 65 (15)
2015–2020 Blues 53 (0)
2021- Chiefs 13 (0)
Correct as of 15 June 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 New Zealand U20 5 (0)
2020 Moana Pasifika 1 (0)
Correct as of 12 May 2021

Early career

Mafileo attended Wesley college and excelled in Rugby playing the role of a bust-out prop with excellent speed & acceleration. He later attended Saint Kentigern College in Auckland and won the Auckland schools competition with them in 2012.[3]

Senior career

Despite being named in North Harbour's squad for the 2013 ITM Cup, serious illness prevented him from making any appearances that year.[3] He managed to make it onto the field the following season, but was merely a bit part player, playing 3 times. 2015 was when he really started to establish himself as Harbour's first choice in the number 3 jersey, he played 9 times that season, all of his appearances coming from the start. He continued to be a regular in North Harbour's Championship winning season in 2016, playing in all 12 of their games during the campaign and scoring his first ever provincial try as Harbour upset the more fancied Wellington and Otago to win promotion to the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership for 2017.[2]

Super Rugby

Despite only having 3 provincial appearances under his belt at the time, Mafileo was called up by the Blues to provide front-row injury cover in the latter part of the 2015 Super Rugby season. He debuted in a New Zealand derby match against the Crusaders and made one other appearance from the replacements bench before the campaign was out.[5] The Blues, under new head-coach Tana Umaga retained his services for 2016 and he went on to play 6 times during the year, including his first 2 starts for the franchise.[2] He was again named in the Blues squad for the 2017 season.[3]

International

Mafileo was a New Zealand Schoolboys representative in 2011 and was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 which competed in the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship in France where he made 5 appearances.[6][7]

Career Honours

North Harbour

Super Rugby Statistics
As of 26 November 2016[2]
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
2015Blues202710000000
2016Blues6241590000010
Total8262300000010

References
  1. "Sione Mafileo North Harbour Player Profile". Harbour Rugby. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  2. "Sione Mafileo itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  3. "Sione Mafileo Blues Player Profile". Blues Rugby. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  4. "Blues 2017 Squad Guide" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  5. "Blues coach Sir John Kirwan names young side to take on Crusaders in Auckland". Rugby Heaven. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  6. "NZU20 squad named for IRB World Champs in France". All Blacks.com. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  7. "Sione Mafileo New Zealand U20 Player Profile". All Blacks.com. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
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