Isaia Toeava facts for kids
Toeava during a New Zealand training session, November 2010
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| Date of birth | 15 January 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Moto'otua, Samoa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 100 kg (220 lb; 15 st 10 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | De La Salle College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Elisapeta Toeava (sister) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Isaia "Ice" Toeava is a famous former rugby union player from New Zealand. He was born on January 15, 1986. Isaia played for the New Zealand national team, known as the All Blacks. He was part of the teams that played in the 2007 Rugby World Cup and won the 2011 Rugby World Cup!
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Isaia's Early Rugby Journey
Isaia Toeava was born in Moto'otua, Samoa. In 1994, he moved to New Zealand to live with his grandmother. He went to De La Salle College, Mangere East, where he played rugby with his school team.
Becoming a Young Star
Isaia was a very talented young player. He represented New Zealand in the Under-19 rugby team. In 2005, he was even named the IRB's Under-19 Player of the Year! He played as a "second-five" (a type of midfielder) for the Under-19 team. His sister, Peta, is also a great athlete. She plays netball for the Silver Ferns, New Zealand's national netball team.
Isaia's Professional Rugby Career
Isaia Toeava played for the All Blacks, which is New Zealand's top rugby team. He also played Sevens rugby for New Zealand.
Joining the All Blacks
In 2005, Isaia was a surprise choice for the All Blacks team. He was only 19 years old! At that time, he had not played much Super 14 (a major club competition). He had only played eight games for his local team, Auckland.
Playing Different Positions
Isaia was a versatile player, meaning he could play in many different positions. He often played as a centre, wing, or fullback. For his local team, Auckland, he played in the Air New Zealand Cup. In 2006, he joined the Hurricanes for the Super 14 season. Then, in 2007, he moved to play for the Blues.
Success with the Blues
Isaia was a key player for the Blues during the 2007 Super 14 season. He scored four tries and helped set up many more from the outside centre position. Because of his great performance, he was nominated for the Super 14 Player of the Year award in 2007.
World Cup Appearances
Isaia played in the last two games of the 2011 Tri Nations Series. At the 2011 Rugby World Cup, he played in pool matches against Tonga (as a left wing), Japan (as a fullback), and Canada (coming off the bench).
Playing Overseas
In July 2012, Isaia signed a two-year contract to play for the Canon Eagles in Tokyo, Japan. Later, in March 2016, he joined Clermont, a strong club in France. He helped Clermont win the French Top 14 championship. He also helped them lead their group in the Champions Cup in January 2017. However, he got an arm injury that needed surgery, which kept him out for the rest of that season.
On June 16, 2020, Isaia signed with another French team, Toulon, for the 2020–21 season. Then, on November 25, 2021, he signed with Bayonne, another French team, to play in the second-tier Pro D2 league for the 2021–22 season.
Awards and Recognition
- NZRU Age-Grade Player of the Year, 2005
Teams Isaia Represented
- New Zealand Secondary Schools in 2003
- New Zealand Sevens rugby in 2005
- New Zealand Under 19 in 2005
- All Blacks from 2005–07 and 2010
See also
In Spanish: Isaia Toeava para niños
