{{Short description|New Zealand rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2017}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = TJ Faiane | image = TJ Faiane 2015.jpg | fullname = Tinoai Faiane | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1995|08|24}} | birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand | height = {{convert|1.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|92|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = Saint Kentigern College | university = | relatives = | position = Midfield Back | currentclub = Secom Rugguts | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2014–2021 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Auckland}} | apps1 = 45 | points1 = 45 | years2 = 2017−2021 | clubs2 = {{rut|Blues}} | apps2 = 54 | points2 = 30 | years3 = 2022-2023 | clubs3 = Hino Red Dolphins | apps3 = 7 | points3 = 0 | years4 = 2023- | clubs4 = Secom Rugguts | apps4 = 28 | points4 = 25 | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | amatcaps1 = | amatpoints1 = | repyears1 = 2013 | repteam1 = New Zealand Schools | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | repyears2 = 2014−15 | repteam2 = New Zealand Under-20 | repcaps2 = 9 | reppoints2 = 10 | repyears3 = | repteam3 = | repcaps3 = | reppoints3 = | clubupdate = 26 November 2021 | repupdate = 29 October 2016 }}
'''TJ Faiane''' (born 24 August 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a midfield back for {{Rut|Auckland}} in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the {{rut|Blues}} in the international Super Rugby competition.<ref name="TJ Faiane Auckland Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/players/0-TJ-Faiane.aspx | title=TJ Faiane Auckland Player Profile | work=Auckland Rugby | accessdate=30 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="TJ Faiane itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics">{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_32276.html | title=TJ Faiane itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics | work=itsrugby.co.uk | accessdate=3 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="Blues 2017 Squad Guide">{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Blues-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | title=Blues 2017 Squad Guide | publisher=All Blacks.com | accessdate=3 December 2016 | archive-date=27 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327154352/http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Blues-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="TJ Faiane Blues Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://theblues.co.nz/players/tj-faiane/ | title=TJ Faiane Blues Player Profile | publisher=Blues Rugby | accessdate=3 December 2016}}</ref>
==Early career==
A teenage prodigy, Faiane made a big impression playing first XV rugby for Saint Kentigern College in Auckland, helping them win 3 successive 1A Championship titles.<ref name="TJ Faiane Blues Player Profile"/>
==Senior career==
Aged just 18, Faiane was named in the Auckland squad for the 2014 ITM Cup, and he went on to make 7 appearances for them during the season, 5 of which were from the start. Injuries ruled him out of the 2015 and 2016 seasons so he has so far been unable to add to his seven provincial caps.<ref name="TJ Faiane itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics"/><ref name="Auckland ITM Cup squad announced">{{cite web | url=http://www.voxy.co.nz/sport/auckland-itm-cup-squad-announced/5/197215 | title=Auckland ITM Cup squad announced | work=Voxy.co.nz | date = 24 July 2014| accessdate=3 December 2016}}</ref>
==Super Rugby==
Despite missing the entire 2015 New Zealand domestic season through injury, new {{rut|Blues}} head-coach Tana Umaga sprang a surprise ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season when he named Faiane as a member of the franchise's wider training group.<ref name="Blues 2016 Squad Guide">{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016_ISR/2016_ISR_Squad_Naming_Blues-F01.pdf | title=Blues 2016 Squad Guide | work=All Blacks Rugby | accessdate=30 October 2015 | archive-date=5 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205145148/http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016_ISR/2016_ISR_Squad_Naming_Blues-F01.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> Once again injuries hindered him and he didn't make any appearances during the year. Despite this, he was given a full contract for the 2017 season.<ref name="Blues 2017 Squad Guide"/>
==International==
Faiane represented New Zealand schools in 2013 and was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 squads which competed in the 2014 and 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championships, finishing in 3rd and 1st places respectively.<ref name="TJ Faiane All Blacks Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/Player/U20/2492 | title=TJ Faiane All Blacks Player Profile | work=All Blacks.com | accessdate=30 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="NZU20 squad named for IRB JWC2014">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/24842/nzu20-squad-named-for-irb-jwc2014 | title=NZU20 squad named for IRB JWC2014 | work=All Blacks.com | date=23 April 2014 | accessdate=3 December 2016 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112212/http://www.allblacks.com/News/24842/nzu20-squad-named-for-irb-jwc2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="NZ Under 20 squad named for World Champs in Italy">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/news/27229/nz-under-20-squad-named-for-world-champs-in-italy | title=NZ Under 20 squad named for World Champs in Italy | work=All Blacks.com | date=12 May 2015 | accessdate=3 December 2016 | archive-date=3 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203123335/http://www.allblacks.com/news/27229/nz-under-20-squad-named-for-world-champs-in-italy | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="2013 NZ Schools team named">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/23290/2013-nz-schools-team-named | title=2013 NZ Schools team named | work=All Blacks.com | date=16 September 2013 | accessdate=3 December 2016 | archive-date=3 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203125957/http://www.allblacks.com/News/23290/2013-nz-schools-team-named | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Career Honours==
'''New Zealand Under-20'''
*World Rugby Under 20 Championship - 2015
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{sport links}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Faiane, TJ}} Category:1995 births Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:Rugby union centres Category:Auckland rugby union players Category:Blues (Super Rugby) players Category:People educated at Saint Kentigern College Category:Living people Category:Rugby union players from Auckland Category:Hino Red Dolphins players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Japan Category:Sayama Secom Rugguts players