Tani Fuga

{{short description|Samoan rugby union player}} {{infobox rugby biography | name = Tani Fuga | image = | image_size = | caption = | alt = | birth_name = Tanielu Fuga | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|7|14}} | birth_place = Samoa | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}} | weight = 16 st 3 lb (103 kg) | currentclub = Harlequins | position = Hooker | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2000 - 2010; | clubs1 = Harlequins | apps1 = 182 | points1 = 100 | clubupdate = | provinceyears1 = | province1 = | provinceapps1 = | provincepoints1 = | superyears1 = | super1 = | superapps1 = | superpoints1 = | repyears1 = 1999 - 2007; | repteam1 = {{nrut|Samoa}} | repcaps1 = 9 | reppoints1 = 9 | repupdate = | repsevensyears1 = | repsevenscomp1 = | coachyears1 = | coachteams1 = | refereeyears1 = | refereecomps1 = | refereeapps1 = }}

'''Tanielu "Tani" Fuga''' (born 14 July 1973)<ref name=bigbang>{{cite web |url=https://www.rugbyunplugged.com/tanimatch.html |title=The Big Bang |publisher=Rugby Unplugged |date= |accessdate=7 March 2021}}</ref> is a Samoan rugby union player. Born in Apia, he was brought up by his grandparents, Iosia and Salavao Fuga and they moved to Auckland in 1986 for him to study.<ref name=bigbang/> He attended Waitakere College in Auckland and played for the Waitemata club.

He played as hooker and, after playing for Samoa in 1999, decided to move to the UK as one of his idols, Keith Wood played there for Harlequins.<ref name=bigbang/> Tani joined Quins in 2000 and made his debut as a replacement against London Wasps on 9 September that year. He scored his first try for the club in the European Challenge Cup victory over Périgueux at the Twickenham Stoop on 7 October 2000. He retired from playing after a benefit year organised at Harlequins in 2010 and returned to New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/winning-end-for-harlequins/ |title=Winning end for Harlequins |publisher=PlanetRugby |date=10 May 2010 |accessdate=7 March 2021}}</ref>

He won nine caps for Samoa and scored a try in his second game against New Zealand back in June 1999. He was a member of the Samoan squad at the 2007 Rugby World Cup finals.

Fuga opened a branch of Nando's in Ponsonby Road, Auckland, New Zealand, on 6 September 2011 for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but it closed in late 2013 due to low sales.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/nandos-franchise-fight-heats-up/JQCTDLF324POUUEVONMH4OQ4EE/ |title=Nando's franchise fight heats up |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=28 November 2013 |accessdate=7 March 2021}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.quins.co.uk/playerdisplay.ink?skip=8&season=2006/2007&playertype=P Harlequins profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuga, Tani}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Rugby union hookers Category:Samoan rugby union players Category:Harlequin F.C. players Category:Samoa international rugby union players Category:Pacific Islanders rugby union players Category:Samoan emigrants to New Zealand Category:Samoan expatriate rugby union players in England Category:Rugby union players from Apia Category:People educated at Waitākere College Category:2007 Rugby World Cup players