{{short description|New Zealand rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Francis Saili | image = Francis Saili 2016.jpg | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|2|16}} | birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand | height = {{height|m=1.80}} | weight = {{convert|99|kg|st lbs|abbr=on}} | ru_position = Centre, Wing | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | years1 = 2011–2014 | clubs1 = Auckland | apps1 = 14 | points1 = 5 | years2 = 2012–2015 | clubs2 = Blues | apps2 = 42 | points2 = 35 | years3 = 2012–2013 | clubs3 = North Harbour | apps3 = 15 | points3 = 15 | years4 = 2015–2017 | clubs4 = Munster | apps4 = 40 | points4 = 45 | years5 = 2017–2020 | clubs5 = Harlequins | apps5 = 34 | points5 = 10 | years6 = 2020–2022 | clubs6 = Biarritz | apps6 = 48 | points6 = 50 | ru_clubupdate = 18 September 2021 | repyears1 = 2011 | repteam1 = New Zealand U20 | repcaps1 = 5 | reppoints1 = 20 | repyears2 = 2013 | repteam2 = New Zealand | repcaps2 = 2 | reppoints2 = 0 | repyears3 = 2014 | repteam3 = Barbarians | repcaps3 = 2 | reppoints3 = 12 | ru_ntupdate = 26 September 2021 | spouse = | children = | relatives = Peter Saili (brother) | school = St Peter's College | university = | clubs7 = Racing 92 | points7 = 25 | years7 = 2022-2024 | apps7 = 44 | clubs8 = Vannes | points8 = 15 | years8 = 2024- | apps8 = 8 }}
'''Francis Saili''' (born 16 February 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player, currently playing for French club Racing 92. He plays primarily as a centre, though he can also play wing. He is the younger brother of Blues loose forward Peter Saili.
==Early life== Saili was born in Auckland and educated at St Peter's College where he played rugby in the school First XV. He was the captain in 2009.<ref>''St Peter's College Magazine 2009'', p. 102.</ref> He represented New Zealand in schoolboy and global under-age tournaments. After leaving school he played for Auckland Marist.
==Career== Saili was part of the New Zealand Under 20 team that won the Junior World Championship in Italy in 2011.<ref>[http://www.allblacks.com/news/22417/All-Blacks-squad-named-for-Steinlager-Series---6-new-caps "All Blacks squad named for Steinlager Series - 6 new caps", Allblacks.com, 2 June 2013.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608021133/http://www.allblacks.com/news/22417/All-Blacks-squad-named-for-Steinlager-Series---6-new-caps |date=8 June 2013 }} (Retrieved 2 June 2013)</ref>
Saili started his professional rugby career in 2011, with a start in the ITM Cup for Auckland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10737853|first=David|last=Leggat|title =New boys bolster Auckland|work=The New Zealand Herald |date=12 July 2012|access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref> In 2012, he commenced playing for the Blues in a match against the Stormers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10792965|first=Wynne|last=Gray|title=Wobbly Blues left little wriggle room|work=The New Zealand Herald |date=19 March 2012|access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref> In 2013, Saili made his debut for the All Blacks against Argentina in Hamilton.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11121349 |title=All Blacks grind out win|date=7 September 2013|work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=7 September 2013|first=Wynne|last=Gray}}</ref> On 1 November 2014, he played for the Barbarians against Australia, scoring a try at Twickenham.
On 6 April 2015, it was announced that Saili would be joining Irish provincial side Munster on a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/20326.php#.VSJwN3lFDIU|title=Munster Sign Francis Saili|date=6 April 2015|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=6 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413091810/http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/20326.php#.VSJwN3lFDIU|archive-date=13 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> He made his debut on 21 August 2015 in Munster's uncapped pre-season friendly loss to Irish rivals Connacht.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/munster-12-connacht-28-2286374-Aug2015/|title=Munster Vs Connacht 21 Aug 2015|date=21 August 2015|work=the42.ie|access-date=27 August 2015}}</ref> Saili made his full Munster debut on 13 September 2015, starting against Ospreys in the 2015–16 Pro12.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/21156.php|title=Munster Just Shade It In Swansea|date=13 September 2015|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023954/http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/21156.php|archivedate=17 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He made his European Rugby Champions Cup debut on 14 November 2015, starting the opening 2015–16 pool game against Treviso.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/21516.php|title=Side Named For European Opener|date=13 November 2015|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=14 November 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116072139/http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/21516.php|archivedate=16 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/21521.php|title=Job Done In Thomond|date=14 November 2015|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=14 November 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023047/http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/21521.php|archivedate=17 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 16 August 2016, it was announced that Saili would be out for 3–4 months following a surgical procedure on his shoulder.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/22929.php#.V7MdeIcUXcs|title=Squad Update|date=16 August 2016|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=16 August 2016}}</ref>
On 26 December 2016, Saili made his return from the injury, coming on as a replacement for Jaco Taute in Munster's game against Leinster. On 14 January 2017, Saili scored the winning try in Munster's 12–14 away win against Glasgow Warriors, a win that secured Munster's place in the quarter-finals of the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/23796.php|title=Munster Secure Their Place In Champions Cup Quarter-Final|date=14 January 2017|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref> On 19 May 2017, it was announced that Saili would leave Munster at the end of the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/2017/05/19/player-contract-update/|title=Player Contract Update|date=19 May 2017|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> The following day, in what was his final appearance for Munster in Thomond Park, Saili scored a try and won the Man-of-the-Match award in the sides 23–3 2016–17 Pro12 semi-final victory against Ospreys.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/report/munster-secure-guinness-pro12-final-place/|title=Munster Secure Guinness PRO12 Final Place|date=21 May 2017|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=21 May 2017}}</ref> On 27 May 2017, Saili made his final appearance for Munster when he started against Scarlets in the 2017 Pro12 Grand Final in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/preview/munster-unchanged-for-guinness-pro12-final/|title=Munster Unchanged For Guinness PRO12 Final|date=26 May 2017|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=28 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/report/aviva-anguish-in-pro12-final/|title=Aviva Anguish In PRO12 Final|date=27 May 2017|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=28 May 2017}}</ref>
On 21 June 2017, it was announced that Saili had signed for English Premiership side Harlequins. Saili played in his first senior game after recovering from an injury on 14 October in a European Champions Cup game against French side La Rochelle. He came on as a substitute in a 34–27 loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/saili-signs-for-harlequins/|title=Saili signs for Harlequins|date=21 June 2017|work=planetrugby.com|access-date=21 June 2017}}</ref>
Saili left Harlequins to join French Pro D2 club Biarritz for the 2020–21 season where he played a pivotal role in helping the club secure promotion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52705119|title=Francis Saili: Harlequins centre to join French second-tier side Biarritz|date=18 May 2020|work=BBC Sport|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref> Biarritz lost to Perpignan in the 2021 Pro D2 Final, however helped the club to gain promotion to the Top 14 winning against Bayonne. He played another season where Biarritz finished 14th and were relegated to the Pro D2.
Francis then signed on a one-year contract with Racing 92 before the 2022-23 Season where Racing reached the Top 14 Semi finals losing to Toulouse. Francis signed a contract extension keeping him at Racing for another season.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.quins.co.uk/team/players/francis-saili Harlequins Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920044043/http://www.quins.co.uk/team/players/francis-saili |date=20 September 2017 }} *[https://munsterrugby.ie/player?PlayGuid=FS316045 Munster Profile] *[https://archive.today/20130223043459/http://www.theblues.co.nz/players/0-Francis-Saili.aspx Blues Profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120828042540/http://www.harbourrugby.co.nz/player-profile.php?id=97 North Harbour Profile] *[https://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_23741.html itsrugby.co.uk Profile] *[http://en.espn.co.uk/newzealand/rugby/player/142046.html ESPN Profile] *{{EPCR profile|FS316045}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saili, Francis}} Category:Living people Category:1991 births Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:New Zealand international rugby union players Category:Auckland rugby union players Category:North Harbour rugby union players Category:Blues (Super Rugby) players Category:Rugby union centres Category:People educated at St Peter's College, Auckland Category:Rugby union players from Auckland Category:Munster Rugby players Category:Harlequin F.C. players Category:Biarritz Olympique players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in France Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in England Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Ireland Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen