Biography.guide
Home › People › Rugby union player › Willy Taofifénua
Portrait of Willy Taofifénua

Willy Taofifénua

b. 1963

French rugby union player

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Willy Taofifénua

Born 1963. Willy Taofifénua is a French rugby union player.

Willy Taofifénua (born 4 February 1963) is a former French rugby player. He played as a flanker for FC Grenoble.

Taofifénua is originally from Wallis and Futuna.

Player and Manager Both Willy and his brother Jean-Jacques Taofifénua played rugby for FC Grenoble.

Taofifénua featured in the defeat to Castres Olympique, in a final said to be one of the worst-ever scandals in French rugby. Despite overpowering pack "the Mammoths of Grenoble" lost 14–11. A try by Grenoble's Olivier Brouzet was denied, then the referee Daniel Salles awarded the decisive try to Gary Whetton, although Grenoble defender Franck Hueber was first to touch down the ball. This ruling gave the title to Castres. Referee Salles admitted 13 years later that he was in error. FC Grenoble coach Jacques Fouroux accused the Federation of a conspiracy, claiming that he had been suspicious of the referee before the match.

In 1999, Taofifénua received a 28-day ban for punching Edinburgh Reivers flanker Graham Doll.

In 2006, Taofifénua was appointed general manager for USA Limoges.

Honours French premiership: FC Grenoble: 1993 Runners-up

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Also known as
Willy Taofifenua

People in Willy Taofifénua's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Willy Taofifénua's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Willy Taofifénua?

French rugby union player

When was Willy Taofifénua born?

Willy Taofifénua was born on 4 February 1963 in Nouméa.

What is Willy Taofifénua's occupation?

Willy Taofifénua is a rugby union player.

What nationality is Willy Taofifénua?

Willy Taofifénua is French.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Willy Taofifénua

· Wikidata: Q3569187

· DBpedia: Willy Taofifénua

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Willy Taofifénua. https://biography.guide/willy-taofifenua/

MLA: "Willy Taofifénua." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/willy-taofifenua/.

Chicago: "Willy Taofifénua." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/willy-taofifenua/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:04 UTC