Afusipa Taumoepeau

Afusipa Faha Ivalu Taumoepeau (born 26 January 1990) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Top 14 club Perpignan. Born in Australia, he represents Tonga at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds

Early life and junior rugby career Afusipa Taumoepeau's rugby journey began with remarkable achievements at the Oatley Junior Rugby Union Football Club. In 2003, he distinguished himself by earning the prestigious **Junior Player of the Year** award, underscoring his exceptional talent. During that season, Taumoepeau played 14 matches, amassing an impressive 35 tries and 7 goals, a feat that highlighted his dominance on the field. His performance also earned him **Southern Districts Representative Honours** for the Under 13's category, marking him as a standout player in his age group. These early accolades foreshadowed his successful professional career, showcasing his early potential and dedication to the sport.

Club career Taumoepeau was schooled at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill and represented Australia at under 20 level, and as part of the Australian Sevens.

He made his debut for the Brumbies in the 2008 Super 14 season, In October 2010 he signed to the Melbourne Rebels and became the Rebels 32nd squad member. Playing in a trial, in preparation for the 2011 Super Rugby season in a pre-season match against Tonga at Olympic Park, Taumoepeau scored a try and earned the honour of scoring the Rebels' first ever pre-season points.

Taumoepeau made his test debut for Tonga on 7 November 2021 as part of a 69-3 loss to England during the 2021 Autumn Nations Series

Honours Castres 1× Top 14: 2017–18