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Emmanuel Meafou

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Emmanuel Meafou
Meafou playing for NSW Country Eagles in 2018
Full nameEmmanuel Latu-Meafou
Date of birth (1998-07-12) 12 July 1998 (age 26)
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Weight145 kg (320 lb; 22 st 12 lb)
SchoolIpswich Grammar School
Notable relative(s)Abigail Latu-Meafou (sister)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Toulouse
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 Melbourne Rising 6 (0)
2018 Warringah 17 (15)
2018 NSW Country Eagles 7 (5)
2019– Toulouse 100 (145)
Correct as of 25 May 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2024– France 4 (0)
Correct as of 16 November 2024

Emmanuel Latu-Meafou (born 12 July 1998) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Top 14 club Toulouse and the France national team. Born in New Zealand to parents from Samoa, before moving to Australia where he was raised, he later obtained French nationality in 2023 and made his debut for his adoptive country in 2024.

Early life

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Emmanuel Latu-Meafou was born on (1998-07-12)12 July 1998 in New Zealand to Samoan parents before moving to Sydney, Australia at two years old with his parents. Shortly afterwards, the family relocated to Queensland: first to Brisbane and then to Ipswich, where he grew up. His nickname is Manny.[1]

At the age of five, he started playing rugby league at Ipswich Grammar School in South East Queensland.[2] He only switched to rugby union at sixteen years old, playing for Brothers.[3] In 2015, Meafou was selected to play for the Queensland II side in the Australian Schools Rugby Championships.[4]

Club career

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In 2017, Meafou first played for National Rugby Championship professional team Melbourne Rising before, one year after, playing for both Shute Shield side Warringah and NSW Country Eagles.

Following the 2018 season, having no offers to pursue his professional career in rugby, he had a brief opportunity to switch to American football and play in the National Football League via the International Player Pathway Program.[5] Meafou stated: "Rugby was still a passion and dream of mine. The only reason I went down the NFL road was because I had no offers. For me rugby was over."[6]

Toulouse

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After his agent reportedly sent footage of Meafou to French rugby clubs, they received several positive responses and offers before joining Toulouse's youth development system.[6] He then left Australia for France in December 2018.[7]

On 21 December 2019, he played his first professional game in France with his new club after having signed an Academy (U21) contract in January until 2021. The next season, he won the 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup and 2020-21 Top 14 double with the French team.[8]

During the 2022–23, Meafou became a regular starter in the Toulouse tight five, playing 23 games and emerging as the cornerstone of the Red and Blacks' scrum. He also started with number 5 jersey in every Toulouse's European Rugby Champions Cup match. On 4 January 2023, he extended his contract with Toulouse until 2025,[9] before winning his third Bouclier de Brennus in the Top 14 final against La Rochelle on 17 June.[10]

International career

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"Oh man, I want to play for France. [...] France is definitely on my radar. There's been a little bit of discussion around it and I'm working towards getting my passport."

– Meafou in an interview to Le French Rugby Podcast reported by ESPN[11]

Being born in New Zealand to parents from Samoa, before moving to Australia as a young child, Meafou is eligible to play for all three countries. Since his arrival in Toulouse in December 2018, Meafou has publicly declared his love of his new homeland and said he would like to play for France.[11]

On 12 March 2023, he was called up to the France national team as an additional training player since he was not eligible to play for his adoptive country yet.[12]

In April 2023, prior to making his debut for France, he was contacted by Eddie Jones to play for Australia ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He declined the offer in favour of playing for France.[13]

On 17 January 2024, he was called up to the France national team for the 2024 Six Nations Championship by head coach Fabien Galthié.[14] On 8 March 2024, having been unavailable for selection in the first three rounds due to injury, he was named in the starting side to face Wales.[15]

Personal life

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"I have been in France for five years, these were the best years of my life. This country really touches my heart. [...] When I arrived here, people always have open arms and I hope to stay there for a long time. I am very proud to be French but I am proud to be from Toulouse too."

– Meafou in an interview after his naturalisation[16]

Meafou and his wife Jada have a son, born in France in December 2023.[17] In 2022, he passed a French language exam in order to become a French citizen.[8] After nearly five years living in France and playing for Toulouse, he was granted French citizenship on 9 November 2023, after a French naturalisation ceremony that took place at the Capitole de Toulouse.[18][19]

Meafou is close to former Toulouse players Piula Faʻasalele, Joe Tekori, Jerome Kaino and Charlie Faumuina as well as current teammate Pita Ahki who helped him to acclimatize himself to France. He is also friends with La Rochelle lock Will Skelton.[20]

Honours

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Toulouse
Warringah

References

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  1. ^ Payten, Iain (5 February 2023). "Meet Manny Meafou, the 2.02m 145kg NZ-born Aussie-raised lock set to star for France". Stuff. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  2. ^ Woods, Melissa (19 April 2022). "Lock Meafou says au revoir to Wallabies". 7news.com.au. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  3. ^ Latu-Meafou, Emmanuel (26 September 2017). "My Rise in My Words: Emmanuel Latu-Meafou". Melbourne Rebels. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Australian Schools Championships: Team Lists". RugbyNews.net.au. 27 June 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  5. ^ Bruce, Sam (20 November 2018). "Behind the scenes at the NFL International Combine Australia". ESPN. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b Frost, Stefan (17 April 2022). "The 6'8", 145kg Aussie who chose Toulouse over a shot at the NFL". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  7. ^ Farvacque, Simon (25 June 2023). "Requête rejetée par World Rugby : Emmanuel Meafou ne disputera pas le Mondial avec le XV de France". Eurosport (in French). Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Emmanuel MEAFOU". Stade Toulousain. December 2018. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  9. ^ @StadeToulousainRugby (4 January 2023). "Emmanuel Meafou, Stadiste jusqu'en 2025" [Emmanuel Meafou, Stadiste until 2025] – via Instagram.
  10. ^ While, James (18 June 2023). "Toulouse v La Rochelle: Five takeaways from the Top 14 final as Romain Ntamack seals the win". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Aussie lock Emmanuel Meafou wants to play for France". ESPN. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  12. ^ "XV de France : Avec Emmanuel Meafou pour préparer le pays de Galles". L'Équipe (in French). 12 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  13. ^ Cameron, Ian (2 April 2023). "Eddie Jones ends Wallabies speculation on Emmanuel Meafou". RugbyPass. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  14. ^ Muzeau, Sylvain (17 January 2024). "Tournoi des Six Nations : Le groupe pour préparer l'Irlande" [Six Nations Tournament: The group to prepare for Ireland] (in French). FFR. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  15. ^ Latham-Coyle, Harry. "Three debutants to start for France as Fabien Galthie rings changes for Wales". The Independent. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  16. ^ Dendri, Nicolas (9 November 2023). "Rugby. Emmanuel Meafou naturalisé français : "Je dois mériter ma place en équipe de France"". Actu.fr (in French). Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  17. ^ Rendell, Sarah (8 March 2024). "Emmanuel Meafou: Ten things you should know about France second row". Rugby World. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Meafou est naturalisé français !". Stade Toulousain (in French). 9 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  19. ^ Raisey, Josh (9 November 2023). "France given major Six Nations boost as Emmanuel Meafou is officially eligible". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  20. ^ Templier, Wilfried (7 April 2023). "Rugby: "Quand je suis arrivé en France, je pesais 162 kilos", rencontre avec le géant toulousain Emmanuel Meafou". RMC Sport (in French). Retrieved 13 November 2023.
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