Sam Kaleta

{{Short description|Samoa & Japan international rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox rugby biography | birth_name = Samuel Puni Kaleta | image = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1966|3|9}} | birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand | ru_currentposition = | ru_currentteam = | position = Flanker | amatyears1 = 1990 | amatteam1 = Kia Toa RFC | years1 = 1992–1994 | years2 = 1994–1997 | years3 = 1997–1999 | years4 = 19–2004 | clubs1 = Ricoh<ref>[https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10092/2277/Thesis_fulltext.pdf;sequence=1 The influence of foreign players on the transformation of Japanese rugby]</ref> | clubs2 = Ponsonby RFC<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/samoans-recover-momentum-to-stampede-oxford-1583185.html|title=Samoans recover momentum to stampede Oxford|date=22 November 1995|website=Independent.co.uk|access-date=26 December 2017}}</ref> | clubs3 = Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars | clubs4 = Perthshire RFC | apps1 = | points1 = | province1 = Manawatu | provinceyears1 = 1990 | provinceapps1 = 8 | provincepoints1 = 4 | repyears1 = 1992–1993 | repyears2 = 1994–1997 | repteam1 = {{nrut|Japan}} | repteam2 = {{nrut|Samoa}} | repcaps1 = 4 | repcaps2 = 7 | reppoints1 = 0 | reppoints2 = 5 }}

'''Samuel Puni Kaleta''', known as '''Sam Kaleta''' (born 9 March 1966 in Auckland) is a former New-Zealand born Samoan rugby union player who played also for Japan. He played as a flanker.

==Career== Kaleta graduated from Lynfield College in Auckland.<ref name="Roskill">{{cite Q|Q116775081|page=98}}</ref> During his playing career, he played for the New Zealand clubs Kia Toa RFC and Ponsonby RFC,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-10-22|title=Samoans recover momentum to stampede Oxford|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/samoans-recover-momentum-to-stampede-oxford-1583185.html|access-date=2021-04-29|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Campbell Burnes: How the Hurricanes have found the magic loose forward formula|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/campbell-burnes-how-the-hurricanes-have-found-the-magic-loose-forward-formula/PPX2SDA7OPIO5FMWX3GMO4343A/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref> as well as for the Japanese clubs Ricoh Black Rams<ref>{{Cite web|title=The influence of foreign players on the transformation of Japanese rugby|url=https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10092/2277/Thesis_fulltext.pdf}}</ref> and Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars. In 1991 he played for the NZ Combined Services team of the New Zealand Defence Force and Police as lock. He finished his career in 2004 for Perthshire RFC.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Today's club rugby action|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12413822.todays-club-rugby-action/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=HeraldScotland|language=en}}</ref>

His first cap for Japan was against Hong Kong, in Seoul, on 26 September 1992, playing four matches. In 1994, Kaleta decided to play for Samoa, his country of heritage; his first cap for the Manu Samoa was in the match against Wales, at Moamoa, on 4 June 1994. He also was part of the 1995 Rugby World Cup roster, although he did not play a match during the tournament. His last cap in his career was against Fiji, in Apia, on 5 July 1997.

In 2006, Kaleta joined the staff of Perthshire RFC and took responsibility for the club's academy.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rugby makes pitch for younger pupils|url=https://www.tes.com/news/rugby-makes-pitch-younger-pupils|access-date=2021-04-29|website=Tes|language=en}}</ref> For some time he was the team's player-coach, even entering the field in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dailyrecord.co.uk|date=2008-03-08|title=Shire fight all the way to bitter end|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/shire-fight-way-bitter-end-2774128|access-date=2021-04-29|website=Daily Record|language=en}}</ref>

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{ESPNscrum|11295}} * [https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/sam-p-kaleta Sam P. Kaleta at New Zealand Rugby History]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaleta, Sam}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:Rugby union players from Auckland Category:Samoan rugby union players Category:Samoan expatriate sportspeople in Scotland Category:Samoan people of New Zealand descent Category:Rugby union flankers Category:Samoa international rugby union players Category:Japan international rugby union players Category:Ponsonby RFC players Category:Black Rams Tokyo players Category:Manawatu rugby union players Category:People educated at Lynfield College Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Japan Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Scotland Category:Samoan expatriate rugby union players in Japan Category:Expatriate rugby union players in Scotland Category:Perthshire RFC players Category:1995 Rugby World Cup players