Taufa'ao Filise

Who is Taufa'ao Filise?

Taufa'ao Filise is a Tongan rugby union footballer. A powerful prop who has played his club rugby with Bay of Plenty alongside Tonga skipper Aleki Lutui. Filise played for the Ikale Tahi in their 2001 Epson Cup campaign and on the tour to Scotland and Wales later that year. He had his first match for Tonga 9, in 2001. He played the one-off Test against Japan in 2002 and some of the RWC qualifiers. He rejoined the Test side this year for the Pacific Tri-Nations after a long absence and played well enough to earn a spot on the Islanders team along with his front-row team-mates. He grew up in Tonga and went to Tupou College in Nuku’alofa. In 2000, he joined Bay of Plenty in New Zealand, and has since represented the union 29 times and scored two tries. Filise currently plays for the professional Welsh club, the Cardiff Blues in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup.

He has represented the Tonga national team, and was also selected to play for the Pacific Islanders rugby union team in 2004 & 2006. His usual position is prop.