Latest news with #TimociTavatavanawai
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Hard-working Highlander makes team of year
Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea headlines a tournament team named following the conclusion of the round-robin phase of Super Rugby. Super Rugby organisers have announced an honorary team with the first-ever Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Year to officially be recognised next year. The team is formed from the top-ranked players in each position based on Player of the Year votes from across the season. The votes come from players on other teams. Savea received the most votes of any player and was recently named Player of Super Rugby Pacific. Hard-working Highlanders Timoci Tavatavanawai received 32 votes and is one of two centres named. The Super Rugby Pacific statement said where players played or are capable of playing multiple positions, for Team of the Year purposes they were assigned only the position that they most played during the 2025 season. Carlo Tizzano, Fraser McReight and Langi Gleeson could not initially be separated for the third back row position, having received the same amount of Player of the Year votes (29). The Player of the Year tie-breaker was to compare the number of 'three votes' received, which saw Gleeson (4) surpassed by Tizzano and McReight (both 5). Remarkably, both flankers received the same number of 'three votes', 'two votes' and 'one vote' during the season, which means they share the final back row selection. 2025 Super Rugby Pacific team of the year PROPS Allan Alaalatoa (ACT Brumbies, 20 votes), Angus Bell (NSW Waratahs, 14 votes) HOOKER Tevita Ikanivere (Fijian Drua, 19 votes) SECOND ROW Jeremy Williams (Western Force, 21 votes), Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues, 20 votes) BACK ROW Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika, 46 votes), Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies, 31 votes), Carlo Tizzano (Western Force, 29 votes) / Fraser McReight (Queensland Reds, 29 votes) HALF BACK Cam Roigard (Hurricanes, 28 votes) FIRST FIVE Damian McKenzie (Chiefs, 36 votes) CENTRES Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders, 32 votes), AJ Lam (Blues, 14 votes) WINGERS Harry Potter (Western Force, 18 votes), Kini Naholo (Hurricanes, 18 votes) FULLBACK Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (NSW Waratahs, 20 votes)
Reuters
7 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Chiefs down Highlanders to secure Super Rugby top spot
SYDNEY, May 30 (Reuters) - Lock Tupou Vaa'i scored a hat-trick of tries as the Waikato Chiefs locked up top spot in the Super Rugby Pacific standings and home advantage throughout the playoffs with a 41-21 victory over the Otago Highlanders on Friday. Runners-up for the last two years, the Chiefs did not hit the heights they have this year in their final regular season clash but always looked like having enough to get past a young Highlanders side. "Although the game wasn't perfect, we got the win," said Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson. "We got the four points, and we're at the top, and we can change our focus to what's in front of us in the quarter-final next week now. Credit to the Highlanders. They were gutsy as tonight." The Chiefs thrashed Moana Pasifika 85-7 last week and looked like running rampant again when they raced to a 19-0 lead inside the first 13 minutes under the roof at Dunedin Stadium. Flanker Samipeni Finau went over to open the scoring before All Black Vaa'i crossed twice in the space of two minutes but the Highlanders gradually worked their way back into the game. Prop Ethan de Groot got one try back from close range on the half-hour mark and, with Chiefs tighthead Reuben O'Neill in the sin bin, the ever-dangerous Timoci Tavatavanawai added another to cut the deficit to 19-14 at halftime. Scrumhalf Xavier Roe raced away down the blindside to give the Chiefs the perfect start to the second half and replacement back Manasa Mataele gave them a 31-17 lead heading into the final quarter, but the Highlanders would not lie down. Sam Gilbert ran onto a clever Tanielu Tele'a kick to score a try in his final appearance for the Highlanders seven minutes from time and they would have got closer had Cortez Ratima not come up with a brilliant try-saving cover tackle. Vaa'i was not done yet, however, and he pounced on a loose ball from a goal-line drop out in the final minute to condemn the Highlanders to the wooden spoon for the first time since the second season of Super Rugby in 1997. "I think we got it right at times, it's just, again, small moments," said co-captain de Groot. "I'm excited for this group. We can do some special things. I'm excited for next season."
Otago Daily Times
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Selection for ABs next for star No 12?
How do you stop a wine barrel which is rolling down a hill? You don't. You get out of the way, or you get flattened. Plenty of Super Rugby Pacific players have discovered that one this year. Highlanders second five Timoci Tavatavanawai has been the best player in the side all season and that is official. He was named the club's most valuable player at the awards evening earlier this week. The Highlanders co-captain picked up a bunch of other awards but all you need to know is he is hard to tackle, he tackles hard and he is adept at winning turnovers at the ruck. And one more thing — he might be an All Black soon. That is how Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph sees it. "I think Timoci Tavatavanawai has been an outstanding player in every minute of every game," Joseph said when asked about his All Blacks prospects. "Perhaps if we gave him a break, then his rugby, in terms of how he played, and this is no slight on him, could even be better. "So I think he's got massive potential, and he would be in my All Blacks team." The Highlanders have signed the Fijian powerhouse for another two years, and towering lock Fabian Holland has inked a three-year deal. "It's a vote of confidence for us coaches, as well as the club, that players kind of trust our process around developing them into a great rugby player." Tavatavanawai was more measured when assessing his international prospects. "At the moment I'm just focusing on my game every week," Tavatavanawai said. "I keep putting my best foot forward to be up there, that's the focus." The All Blacks were not on Tavatavanawai's mind when he moved over from Fiji. The goal was to help support his family and to cement a position with Tasman in the NPC. Then he got the opportunity to play in Super Rugby Pacific with Moana Pasifika in 2022-23 before moving to the Highlanders last season. This season has been a breakthrough campaign for the robust former winger. His ability to punch holes in the defence and his strength over the ball at the ruck have set him apart from some of the other midfielders in the country. Tavatavanawai has carried the ball more than just about anyone else in the competition — 160 carries. He leads the competition in defenders beaten, swatting aside 64 would-be-tacklers. And he is in the top 10 for offloads. The Highlanders will name their side for their final game of the season today. They play the red-hot Chiefs in Dunedin on Friday. Tavatavanawai was looking forward to demonstrating his skills one more time this season. So are his fans.
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Key pair sign on to stay at Highlanders
Timoci Tavatavanawai. PHOTO: MICHAEL THOMAS Fabian Holland. PHOTO: MICHAEL BRADLEY The big winners from the Highlanders awards have inked contract extensions with the franchise. Co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai, who scooped five prizes at yesterday's awards night, has signed a two-year contract, while big lock Fabian Holland has signed a three-year extension. Tavatavanawai capped off his year by being named Highlander man of the year and most valuable player. Tavatavanawai, who was a standout defensively for his work over the ball, caught the eye of fans and his team-mates to be named player's player and fans' player of the year. He was also named back of the year. Holland was the other big winner on the night for his standout performance up front. He was named forward of the year and defender of the year. Loose forward Veveni Lasaqa was named rookie of the year. In a fitting touch, Jacob Ratumaitavuku-Kneepkens was given the southern inspiration award after returning to the field following a series neck injury. Young halfback Dylan Pledger was named the under-20s most valuable player after a standout Super Rugby U20s campaign and his New Zealand under-20 selection. James Arscott won the player personal development award and Jake Te Hiwi was named community champion for his engagement in the region. — APL.
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Award winners sign extensions
Timoci Tavatavanawai. PHOTO: MICHAEL THOMAS Fabian Holland. PHOTO: MICHAEL BRADLEY The big winners from the Highlanders awards have inked contract extensions with the franchise. Co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai, who scooped five prizes at yesterday's awards night, has signed a two-year contract, while big lock Fabian Holland has signed a three-year extension. Tavatavanawai capped off his year by being named Highlander man of the year and most valuable player. Tavatavanawai, who was a standout defensively for his work over the ball, caught the eye of fans and his team-mates to be named player's player and fans' player of the year. He was also named back of the year. Holland was the other big winner on the night for his standout performance up front. He was named forward of the year and defender of the year. Loose forward Veveni Lasaqa was named rookie of the year. In a fitting touch, Jacob Ratumaitavuku-Kneepkens was given the southern inspiration award after returning to the field following a series neck injury. Young halfback Dylan Pledger was named the under-20s most valuable player after a standout Super Rugby U20s campaign and his New Zealand under-20 selection. James Arscott won the player personal development award and Jake Te Hiwi was named community champion for his engagement in the region. — APL.
