Isaia Toeava

Rugger
name = Isaia Toeava


caption =
birthname = Isaia Toeava
nickname = Ice
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|1|15
placeofbirth = Moto’otua, Samoa
allblackno = 1064
allblackid = 1064
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height = height|m=1.81
weight = convert|100|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position = Rugbycentre|capital=yes, Wing|capital=yes, first five-eighth|capital=yes Fullback|capital=yes
ru_amateuryears = 2005
ru_amateurclubs = Auckland Marist
ru_amupdate = 1 January 2008
ru_nationalteam = flagicon|New Zealand New Zealand
ru_nationalyears = 2005–
ru_nationalcaps = 15
ru_nationalpoints = (25)
ru_ntupdate = 1 January 2008
ru_clubyears =
ru_proclubs =
ru_clubcaps =
ru_clubpoints =
ru_clubupdate =
ru_currentclub =
super14 = flagicon|New Zealand BLUru
flagicon|New Zealand HURru
super14years = 2007–
2006
super14caps = 12
14
super14points = (20)
(15)
super14currentclub =
super14update = 1 January 2008
ru_province = flagicon|New Zealand Auckland
ru_provinceyears = 2005–
ru_provincecaps = 16
ru_provincepoints = (30)
ru_provinceupdate = 27 October 2006
ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcaps(points) =
ru_sevensupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
other = yes
occupation =
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives =
school = De La Salle College (Auckland)
university =

Isaia Toeava (born 15 January 1986 in Moto'otua, Samoa), is a professional rugby union player in New Zealand. Known as "Ice", he was a shock selection in the All Blacks 2005 end-of-year tour at only 19 years of age and having previously no Super 14 and limited Provincial experience having just played eight games for Auckland, with only a solitary started at first-five against Northland. His first game for the All Blacks was not a success, and his continuing selection for the team has been one of the controversial aspects of Graham Henry's time as coach.

Isaia Toeava attended De La Salle College, Mangere East, he played alongside Taniela Moa & Daniel Crichton in the schools First XV rugby team.

Since then, he has played his first-class rugby mainly at Centre, Wing and Fullback although he has played first-five in the age groups. He currently plays his provincial rugby for Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup. He was drafted to the Hurricanes in the 2006 Super 14 season, but was selected to play for the Blues for the 2007 season.

He has been instrumental in the success of the Blues in the 2007 Super 14 season, scoring 4 tries and setting up many other tries from the outside centre position. He was later nominated for Rebel Sport Super 14 Player of the Year at the 2007 Steinlager Rugby Awards. He is one of several players to be played at centre for the All Blacks over the last two seasons, a position which has not cemented by any player since the retirement of former-captain Tana Umaga. He is usually regarded as the second contender behind Conrad Smith.

Toeava has also represented New Zealand in the Sevens rugby and New Zealand U-19 where he was named the IRB's Under-19 2005 player of the year.

In 2004 Toeava played at second five for the Auckland championship-winning Marist Under 21 team, coached by Peter Tubberty. Tubberty is renowned for his speed training regimes involving the use of sleds.

When he was just 19 years of age, Isaia Toeava joined the All Blacks in 2005 after only eight appearances in the Air New Zealand NPC but certainly held his own in his Test debut, at fullback against Scotland at Edinburgh.

A talented exponent of the Sevens game, Toeava has the skills and athleticism to play anywhere from first five-eighths out.

He played at second-five for New Zealand Under 19 but primarily at fullback for the Hurricanes in the 2006 Rebel Sport Super 14 – he was the only draft player, from Auckland, in the Hurricanes squad – and is predicted to have a bright future as a penetrative midfield back.

His outstanding form at Centre for Blues in the 2007 Super 14 saw his recall to the All Blacks.

Toeava has recently been linked with a move to the Ospreys.

NZRU Annual Awards

* NZRU Age-Grade Player of the Year, 2005

New Zealand Representative Teams

* New Zealand Secondary Schools in 2003
* New Zealand Sevens rugby in 2005
* New Zealand Under 19 in 2005
* All Blacks in 2005-2007

Career Notes

* Played every match in his first Rebel Sport Super 14 season for the Hurricanes.
* Scored two tries against Northland in his only start of the season for Auckland in the 2005 Air New Zealand NPC.
* Received the 2005 IRB Under 19 Player of the Year award announced in November 2005 in Paris.
* Scored 62 points in four matches for New Zealand Under 19 at the IRB Under 19 World Championships in South Africa in 2005, including five tries and 37 points from the boot.
* Scored nine tries and a conversion in three IRB Sevens tournaments in 2005.

References

External links

* [http://www.theblues.co.nz/player/profile.html?playerid=3567786 Blues profile]
*All Blacks|id=1064|name=Isaia Toeava