{{Short description|New Zealand rugby union player}} {{EngvarB|date=March 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Cardiff Vaega | image = | caption = | birth_name = Cardiff Vaega | nickname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1991|09|23}} | birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | ru_position = Midfield | allblackno = | allblackid = | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | ru_amupdate = | repteam1 = | repyears1 = | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | ru_ntupdate = | years1 = 2014–2015 | years2 = 2018–2019 | years3 = 2020−2021 | years4 = 2021− | clubs1 = Pau | clubs2 = Valorugby Emilia | clubs3 = Valorugby Emilia | clubs4 = Tomitanii Constanța | apps1 = 5 | apps2 = 20 | apps3 = 18 | points1 = 0 | points2 = 25 | points3 = 20 | ru_clubupdate = | ru_currentclub = | super1 = Hurricanes | super2 = Blues | superyears1 = 2014 | superyears2 = 2015 | superapps1 = 1 | superapps2 = 3 | superpoints1 = 0 | superpoints2 = 5 | super14currentclub = | super14update = 30 March 2014 | province1 = Southland | province2 = {{Rut|Counties Manukau}} | province3 = Hawke's Bay | province4 = {{Rut|Counties Manukau}} | provinceyears1 = 2011–2014 | provinceyears2 = 2015–2016 | provinceyears3 = 2017 | provinceyears4 = 2018−2019 | provinceapps1 = 34 | provinceapps2 = 21 | provinceapps3 = 10 | provinceapps4 = 18 | provincepoints1 = 30 | provincepoints2 = 15 | provincepoints3 = 20 | provincepoints4 = 10 | ru_provinceupdate = 23 October 2016 | repsevensyears1 = | repsevensteam1 = | repsevenscomp1 = | coachteams1 = | coachyears1 = | ru_coachupdate = | other = | occupation = | family = | spouse = | children = | relatives = To'o Vaega (father) | school = Kelston Boys' High School | university = }}
'''Cardiff Vaega''' (born in Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays in the centre position for the Romanian based SuperLiga team Tomitanii Constanța.
Vaega is also son of To'o Vaega, who played for Southland and the Highlanders among other sides in New Zealand. To'o also played for Samoa he had represented his country 61 times in a 15-year period. Starting one of the longest international careers in modern rugby union history.
==Playing career== Vaega studied at Auckland rugby powerhouse Kelston Boys' High School – where he was a member of the First XV for four seasons. Cardiff had shifted to Invercargill with an ambition of furthering his rugby and cracking Southland in the next few years. He balanced his time in the academy with his studies at the Southern Institute of Technology, where he was in the first year of a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation. Vaega, played his club rugby with Star, he was also approached by Otago, but said several factors swayed him to Southland.<ref name="New Vaega follows own path in Southland">{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/4730770/New-Vaega-follows-own-path-in-Southland | title=New Vaega follows own path in Southland | work=Stuff | date=4 March 2011 | accessdate=11 October 2013 }}</ref>
He made his provincial debut with the side in 2011 season's ITM Cup against Bay of Plenty. He ran strongly with the ball and was rewarded with a try. In 2014 He played for the Wellington based Super Rugby side the Hurricanes, and for provincial side Southland. Vaega has also represented at under-17 level for New Zealand. He made his debut for Southland in 2011 and his strong performances saw him named in the Hurricanes squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season.<ref name="Cardiff Vaega joins Hurricanes squad">{{cite web|url=http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/19345538/cardiff-vaega-joins-hurricanes-squad/ |title=Cardiff Vaega joins Hurricanes squad |work=Yahoo! Sports |publisher=Fuseworks |date=11 October 2013 |accessdate=11 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012062455/http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/19345538/cardiff-vaega-joins-hurricanes-squad/ |archivedate=12 October 2013 }}</ref>
In 2020−2021 season he played for Italian based Top12 team Valorugby Emilia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.valorugby.it/2020/09/12/first-xv-ingaggiato-cardiff-vaega/ |title=FIRST XV: INGAGGIATO CARDIFF VAEGA |website=www.valorugby.it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920055627/http://www.valorugby.it/2020/09/12/first-xv-ingaggiato-cardiff-vaega/ |archive-date=2020-09-20}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaega, Cardiff}} Category:Living people Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:1991 births Category:Southland rugby union players Category:Hurricanes (rugby union) players Category:Rugby union players from Auckland Category:Rugby union centres Category:Counties Manukau rugby union players Category:People educated at Kelston Boys' High School Category:Valorugby Emilia players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Italy Category:Section Paloise players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in France