David Te Moana

David Te Moana

Full name	David Te Moana
Date of birth	16 February 1982 (1982-02-16) (age 29)
Place of birth	Whakatane, New Zealand
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	126 kg (19 st 12 lb)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Prop
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2009–2010	SU Agen	13	(0)
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2006-2009 2010 2011–	Manawatu Wellington Manawatu	37 2 0	(5) (0) (0)
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2006 2007 2011–	Western Force Reds Highlanders	6 5 5	(0) (0) (0)

David Te Moana (born 16 February 1982 in Whakatane, New Zealand) is a rugby union player who currently plays provincial rugby for Manawatu in the ITM Cup and the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition.

Playing career

A late starter, Te Moana didn't play an organized rugby match until he was 18, and had moved to Australia to work in construction before he started taking the sport seriously.^[1] By 2005, he had found his way into the Queensland Reds academy, and for the 2006 Super 14 season was included in the Western Force squad for their inaugural season.

After making 6 substitute appearances in his season for the Force, Te Moana found himself back with the Reds for the 2007 Super 14 season, making 5 starts. However, this would be his last appearance in the competition for a further 4 years.

Te Moana returned to New Zealand to compete in the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup, and after his options in Australia were at an end, continued on until 2009 as one of the starting props for the province. For the 2009-10 season, he signed in France with 2nd division SU Agen. He made 13 appearances for the squad, helping them earn promotion to the Top 14 but was released at the conclusion of the season due to import restrictions.

On his return to New Zealand, Te Moana signed to play for Wellington for the 2010 ITM Cup. He made only 2 appearances for the side, and transferred back to Manawatu at the conclusion of the campaign.

Despite his lack of playing time for Wellington, he impressed coach Jamie Joseph enough that, when Joseph was hired of the coach of the Highlanders for the 2011 Super Rugby season, Te Moana was offered a contract.

Te Moana made his Highlanders debut as the starting tighthead prop in the team's 14-9 win over the Hurricanes in the opening fixture of the season on 18 February.

References

1. ^ Hepburn, Steve (16 February 2011). "Rugby: Highlanders' newest prop has big past". Otago Daily Times. http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/147928/rugby-highlanders-newest-prop-has-big-past?page=0%2C1. Retrieved 27 September 2011. 

External links

• Highlanders Profile

Persondata
Name	Te Moana, David
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	16 February 1982
Place of birth	Whakatane, New Zealand
Date of death
Place of death