Sione Kalamafoni (born 18 May 1988) is a rugby union footballer who plays at number 8 for Scarlets. Kalamafoni played for Tonga at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, 2015 Rugby World Cup and the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[1]

Sione Kalamafoni
Birth nameSione Maake Kalamafoni
Date of birth (1988-05-18) May 18, 1988 (age 36)
Place of birthMatahau, Tonga
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight121 kg (19 st 1 lb; 267 lb)
SchoolAuckland Grammar School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8/Flanker
Current team Scarlets
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2012
2012–2017
2017–2020
2020–
Nottingham
Gloucester
Leicester Tigers
Scarlets
42
106
64
52
(65)
(50)
(35)
(45)
Correct as of 28 September 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007− Tonga 37 (10)
Correct as of 1 March 2023

Career

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Kalamafoni first signed to Nottingham in the RFU Championship from the 2010/11 season.[2] On 15 March 2012, Kalamafoni would leave Nottingham to sign for Gloucester Rugby in the Aviva Premiership on a two-year contract from 2012/13 season.[3] On 14 November 2013, Kalamafoni signed a two-year contract extension with Gloucester until the end of 2015/16 season.[4]

On 1 June 2017 Leicester Tigers announced that Kalamafoni would be joining them for the 2017-18 season.[5]

On 26 March 2020, it was confirmed that Kalamafoni would sign for Welsh region Scarlets in the Pro14 ahead of the 2020–21 season.[6]

Personal life

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Kalamafoni is a Mormon and undertook a two-year mission in Chicago at the age of 18.[7][8] In January 2021 he and his family became British citizens.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Profile". 2011 Rugby World Cup Official Site. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Nottingham sign Tonga International forward Sione Kalamafoni". BBC Sport. 7 September 2010.
  3. ^ "Gloucester sign Tonga International Sione Kalamafoni from Nottingham". BBC Sport. 15 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Kalamafoni contract extension with Gloucester". BBC Sport. 14 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Sione Kalamafoni, Dominic Ryan, Joe Ford and Jonah Holmes join Leicester Tigers". BBC. 1 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Leicester Tigers back row star Sione Kalamafoni to leave for PRO14". The Rugby Paper. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Missionary on a mission". Fiji Sun. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  8. ^ a b "I grew up in a house with no internet. I didn't really know a whole lot about rugby". Rugby Pass. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
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