TJ Faiane


TJ Faiane is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a midfield back for in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the in the international Super Rugby competition.

Early career

A teenage prodigy, Faiane made a big impression playing first XV rugby for Saint [Kentigern College] in Auckland, helping them win 3 successive 1A Championship titles.

Senior career

Aged just 18, Faiane was named in the Auckland squad for the 2014 ITM Cup, and he went on to make 7 appearances for them during the season, 5 of which were from the start. Injuries ruled him out of the 2015 and 2016 [Mitre 10 Cup|2016] seasons so he has so far been unable to add to his seven provincial caps.

Super Rugby

Despite missing the entire 2015 New Zealand domestic season through injury, new head-coach Tana Umaga sprang a surprise ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season when he named Faiane as a member of the franchise's wider training group. Once again injuries hindered him and he didn't make any appearances during the year. Despite this, he was given a full contract for the 2017 season.

International

Faiane represented New Zealand national [schoolboy rugby union team|New Zealand schools] in 2013 and was a member of the New Zealand national under-20 rugby [union team|New Zealand Under 20] squads which competed in the 2014 IRB Junior [World Championship|2014] and 2015 [World Rugby Under 20 Championship]s, finishing in 3rd and 1st places respectively.

Career Honours

New Zealand Under-20