Sipili Falatea (born 6 June 1997) is a French professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Top 14 club Bordeaux Bègles and the France national team.[1] Born on the island of Futuna, he joined mainland France in 2015 and began his professional career with Clermont in 2017.

Sipili Falatea
Falatea representing Bordeaux Bègles
Date of birth (1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 (age 27)
Place of birthLeava, Wallis and Futuna
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight116 kg (256 lb; 18 st 4 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team Bordeaux Bègles
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2022 Clermont 53 (15)
2022– Bordeaux Bègles 22 (5)
Correct as of 18 March 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021– France 14 (5)
Correct as of 14 September 2023

Early life

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Originally from Futuna, Sipili Falatea was born into a rugby household with his brother Tapu Falatea and his nephew Yoram Moefana being professional rugby players.[2][3] He arrived in Metropolitan France in 2015 thanks to his brother, joining Colomiers academy.[4]

Professional career

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Sipili Falatea was recruited by Top 14 club Clermont in the summer of 2017.[4] In July 2022, he joined Bordeaux Bègles from the 2022-23 Top 14 season until 2024.[5]

Falatea was called by Fabien Galthié to the French national team for the first time in June 2021, for the summer tour of Australia.[6]

Career statistics

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List of international tries

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International tries
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 12 November 2022 Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France   South Africa 27–26 30–26 2022 Autumn internationals

References

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  1. ^ "Sipili FALATEA". It's Rugby. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  2. ^ Nolan, Lawrence (30 June 2022). "France: Uncle and nephew team up as Fabien Galthie experiments". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Sipili Falatea". competitions.ffr.fr (in French). Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b "ASM : Sipili Falatea vu par Bernard Goutta". La Montagne (in French). 22 November 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Découvrez les recrues 2022". UBBrugby.com (in French). 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Fabien Galthié appelle 22 novices avec les Bleus pour la tournée en Australie". Rugbyrama (in French). 20 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
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