TJ Faiane

TJ Faiane (born 24 August 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a midfield back for Auckland in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Blues in the international Super Rugby competition.^[1][2][3][4]

TJ Faiane

Full name	Tinoai Faiane
Date of birth	(1995-08-24) 24 August 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	92 kg (14 st 7 lb; 203 lb)
School	Saint Kentigern College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Midfield Back Current team Secom Rugguts Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2014–2021 Auckland 45 (45) 2017−2021 Blues 54 (30) 2022-2023 Hino Red Dolphins 7 (0) 2023- Secom Rugguts 18 (20) Correct as of 26 November 2021 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2013 New Zealand Schools 2014−15 New Zealand Under-20 9 (10) Correct as of 29 October 2016

Early career

A teenage prodigy, Faiane made a big impression playing first XV rugby for Saint Kentigern College in Auckland, helping them win 3 successive 1A Championship titles.^[4]

Senior career

Aged just 18, Faiane was named in the Auckland squad for the 2014 ITM Cup, and he went on to make 7 appearances for them during the season, 5 of which were from the start. Injuries ruled him out of the 2015 and 2016 seasons so he has so far been unable to add to his seven provincial caps.^[2][5]

Super Rugby

Despite missing the entire 2015 New Zealand domestic season through injury, new Blues head-coach Tana Umaga sprang a surprise ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season when he named Faiane as a member of the franchise's wider training group.^[6] Once again injuries hindered him and he didn't make any appearances during the year. Despite this, he was given a full contract for the 2017 season.^[3]

International

Faiane represented New Zealand schools in 2013 and was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 squads which competed in the 2014 and 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championships, finishing in 3rd and 1st places respectively.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Career Honours

New Zealand Under-20

• World Rugby Under 20 Championship - 2015