Francis Saili

Francis Saili
Full name Francis Saili
Date of birth (1991-02-16) 16 February 1991
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 99 kg (218 lb)
School St Peter's College
Notable relative(s) Peter Saili (brother)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Centre, Wing
New Zealand No. 1126
Amateur clubs
Years Club / team
Auckland Marist R.C
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2011
2012–13
2014–15
2015–present
Auckland
North Harbour
Auckland
Munster
5
15
9
21
(0)
(15)
(5)
(15)
correct as of 30 Apr 2016.
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2012–15 Blues 42 (35)
correct as of 12 June 2015.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2011
2013
New Zealand U20
New Zealand
5
2
(20)
(0)
correct as of 3 Nov 2013.

Francis Saili (born 16 February 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays primarily as a centre for Munster in the Pro12 and European Rugby Champions Cup, though he can also play wing. He is the younger brother of Blues loose forward Peter Saili.

Early life

Saili was born in Auckland and educated at St Peter's College where he played rugby in the school First XV. He was the captain in 2009.[1] He represented New Zealand in schoolboy and global under-age tournaments. After leaving school he played for Auckland Marist.

Career

Saili was part of the New Zealand Under 20 team that won the Junior World Championship in Italy in 2011.[2]

Saili started his professional rugby career in 2011, with a start in the ITM Cup for Auckland.[3] In 2012, he commenced playing for the Blues in a match against the Stormers.[4] In 2013, Saili made his debut for the All Blacks against Argentina in Hamilton.[5] On 1 November 2014, he played for the Barbarians against Australia, scoring a try at Twickenham.

On 6 April 2015, it was announced that Saili would be joining Irish provincial side Munster on a two-year contract. [6] He made his debut on 21 August 2015 in Munster's uncapped pre-season friendly loss to Irish rivals Connacht.[7] Saili made his full Munster debut on 13 September 2015, starting against Ospreys in the 2015–16 Pro12.[8] He made his European Rugby Champions Cup debut on 14 November 2015, starting the opening 2015–16 pool game against Treviso.[9][10]

References

  1. St Peter's College Magazine 2009, p. 102.
  2. "All Blacks squad named for Steinlager Series - 6 new caps", Allblacks.com, 2 June 2013. (Retrieved 2 June 2013)
  3. Leggat, David (12 July 2012). "New boys bolster Auckland". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  4. Gray, Wynne (19 March 2012). "Wobbly Blues left little wriggle room". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  5. Gray, Wynne (7 September 2013). "All Blacks grind out win". NZ Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  6. "Munster Sign Francis Saili". munsterrugby.ie. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  7. "Munster Vs Connacht 21 Aug 2015". the42.ie. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  8. "Munster Just Shade It In Swansea". munsterrugby.ie. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  9. "Side Named For European Opener". munsterrugby.ie. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  10. "Job Done In Thomond". munsterrugby.ie. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 29, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.