{{Use British English|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox rugby biography | image = Stade toulousain VS Biarritz 01 2013 (11).JPG | birth_name = Pelu Ian Taele-Pavihi | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1981|9|28}} | birth_place = Dunedin, New Zealand | height = {{height|m=1.98|precision=0}} | weight = {{convert|251|lb|kg|abbr=on}} | ru_currentposition = Lock | ru_currentteam = Biarritz Olympique | position = | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | years1 = 2006–2007 | years2 = 2007–2009 | years3 = 2009–2014 | years4 = 2014-2017 | years5 = 2017- | clubs1 = Leeds Tykes | clubs2 = Parma | clubs3 = Biarritz | clubs4 = Bayonne | clubs5 = RC Narbonne | apps1 = 12 | apps2 = 39 | apps3 = 111 | apps4 = 46 | apps5 = 14 | points1 = 5 | points2 = 25 | points3 = 25 | points4 = 5 | points5 = 0 | ru_clubupdate = 30 January 2015 | provinceyears1 = 2004–2006 | province1 = Otago | provinceapps1 = 2 | provincepoints1 = 0 | repyears1 = 2005–2010 | repteam1 = Samoa | repcaps1 = 11 | reppoints1 = 0 }} '''Pelu Ian Taele-Pavihi''' (born 28 September 1981, in Dunedin), also known as '''Pelu Taele''', is a New Zealand-born Samoan and Niue international rugby union footballer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members4.boardhost.com/niuerugby/msg/2687.html |title=The Niue Rugby Union Notice Board: Further Addition to 'WNRAI – ANRAI COMPETITION |accessdate=2009-10-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722055617/http://members4.boardhost.com/niuerugby/msg/2687.html |archivedate=22 July 2011 }}</ref> He is a {{convert|1.98|m}} second row forward who joined Biarritz Olympique before the 2009–10 season.<ref name=Scrum>{{cite web |url=http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/player/14987.html |title= Players & Officials / Pelu Taele-Pavihi |publisher=ESPNscrum |accessdate=3 October 2009}}</ref><ref name=ItsRugby>{{cite web |url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/joueur_3857.html |title=Index card of player Taele-Pavihi Pelu |publisher=It's Rugby |accessdate=3 October 2009}}</ref>
==Club career== Taele played for the Highlanders development squad in 2004<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/51908.html |title=Webb goes for Highlanders spot |date=28 January 2004 |publisher=ESPNscrum |accessdate=3 October 2009}}</ref> and represented Otago in the National Provincial Championship. He signed for Saracens in July 2006, with the intention of joining up with the squad after completing the New Zealand season with Otago.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saracens.com/news/view.php?Id=2783 |title=Samoan adds weight to Saracens pack |publisher=Saracens F.C. |date=13 July 2006 |accessdate=3 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615135627/http://www.saracens.com/news/view.php?Id=2783 |archivedate=15 June 2011 }}</ref> By the time he arrived in England, there was too much competition for his position at Saracens so he was loaned to Leeds Tykes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saracens.com/news/view.php?Id=3200 |title=Pavihi joins Tykes on loan |publisher=Saracens F.C |date=4 December 2006 |accessdate=3 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615135811/http://www.saracens.com/news/view.php?Id=3200 |archivedate=15 June 2011 }}</ref> Taele then spent two seasons with Overmach Parma, where he was part of the team that won the Coppa Italia in both 2008 and 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legarugby.it/eventi_show.php?id=2&nome=Finale%20Trofeo%20AAMS%20Coppa%20Italia%202008 |title=Al Sergio Lanfranchi di Parma la finale di Coppa Italia 2008 |language=Italian |trans-title=2008 Coppa Italia final from Parma's Sergio Lanfranchi Stadium |publisher=Lega Italiana Rugby d’Eccellenza |date=6 February 2009 |accessdate=3 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legarugby.it/ultime-news.php?id=1141&titolo=Finale%20Coppa%20Italia%202009:%20La%20diretta%20Web%20testuale |title=Finale Coppa Italia 2009: La diretta Web testuale |language=Italian |trans-title=2008 Coppa Italia final: Live text |publisher=Lega Italiana Rugby d’Eccellenza |date=25 March 2009 |accessdate=3 October 2009}}</ref> Before the 2009–10 season Taele moved to Biarritz Olympique.<ref name="ItsRugby"/> In 2014 he signed a two-year deal with Aviron Bayonnais.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/taele-signs-for-bayonne/ |title=Taele signs for Bayonne |publisher=Planet Rugby |date=22 July 2014 |accessdate=6 February 2021}}</ref>
==International career== Taele gained selection for the Samoan national side by virtue of his performances with Otago.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/15379994/samoa-announce-touring-party |title=Samoa announce touring party |publisher=ESPN |date=28 May 2005 |access-date=26 September 2021}}</ref> He made his international debut against Tonga in July 2005 and was in the starting XV against England later the same year. He featured in the 2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations squad with tests against the Junior All Blacks, Fiji, Tonga and Japan, and (as of November 2011) has eight caps in total.<ref name=Stats>{{cite web |url=http://www.scrum.com/statsguru/rugby/player/14987.html?class=1;template=results;type=player;view=match |title=Statsguru / Player analysis / Pelu Taele-Pavihi / Test matches |publisher=ESPNscrum |accessdate=3 October 2009}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taele, Pelu}} Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:Rugby union players from Dunedin Category:Samoan rugby union players Category:21st-century Samoan sportsmen Category:Otago rugby union players Category:Saracens F.C. players Category:Leeds Tykes players Category:Biarritz Olympique players Category:Samoan expatriate rugby union players in France Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:New Zealand people of Niuean descent Category:Samoa international rugby union players Category:Rugby union locks Category:Crociati Parma Rugby FC players Category:Expatriate rugby union players in Italy Category:Samoan expatriate rugby union players in England