Pita Alatini

Rugger
name = Pita Alatini


caption =
birthname = Pita Faiva-ki-moana Alatini
nickname =
birthyear = 1976
birthmonth = 4
birthday = 11
placeofbirth = NukuOkinaalofa, Tonga
height = height|m=1.79
weight = convert|90|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position = Centre
ru_clubyears =
ru_clubupdate =
ru_proclubs = Suntory Sungoliath
Kamaishi Seawaves
ru_clubcaps =
ru_clubpoints = -
-
ru_currentclub = (-)
(-)
super14 = Crusaders
Chiefs
Highlanders
Hurricanes
super14years =
super14caps = 5
3
-
-
super14points = (-)
(-)
(-)
(-)
super14currentclub =
super14update =
ru_province = Counties-Manukau
Southland
Otago
Wellington
ru_provinceyears =
ru_provincecaps = 30
-
-
-
ru_provincepoints = (-)
(-)
(-)
(-)
ru_provinceupdate =
ru_nationalyears = 1999-2001
ru_nationalteam = ru|NZL
ru_nationalcaps = 20
ru_nationalpoints = (35)
ru_ntupdate = 1 Sept 2001
other = yes
spouse = Megan Alatini
children = Tonica (daughter)
Tiara (daughter)
Trey (son)
relatives = Anthony Alatini
Sam Alatini
school = King's College
university = University of Otago

Pita Faiva-ki-moana Alatini (born April 11, 1976 in NukuOkinaalofa) is a Tongan-born New Zealand rugby union footballer. Alatini is a midfield back who played in 17 tests for the All Blacks between 1999 and 2001, scoring 6 test tries.

Alatini played 81 NPC matches for four different provinces (Counties-Manukau, Southland, Otago, and Wellington), and 72 Super 12 matches for four different franchises (Crusaders, Chiefs, Highlanders, and Hurricanes).cite web
last=Knight
first=Lindsey
title=Pita Alatini profile
url=http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/ABProfilee.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&IDID=4
work=New Zealand Rugby Museum
accessdate=2008-02-23] He has also played professionally in Japan for Suntory Sungoliath and Kamaishi Seawaves.

Alatini is married to pop singer and actress Megan Alatini. His brothers Anthony and Sam Alatini have played for the Tonga national rugby union team.

Career overview

Alatini moved to Auckland from Tonga as a child. He attended King's College, and played for the national secondary school side in 1993-94 and the national under-19 team in 1995. He played 30 matches for the Counties-Manukau NPC team in 1995-96, and five matches for the Crusaders in the Super 12 in 1996. He represented the New Zealand Colts and played three Super 12 matches for the Chiefs in 1997.

In 1997-98, Alatini played for Southland in the NPC, and began to specialise as a midfielder (up until then, he had often played as a fullback). Alatini played for the Highlanders in the Super 12 from 1998 to 2001, and it was during this time that he became a regular selection for the All Blacks.

In 2002 and 2003, Alatini played for the Hurricanes in the Super 12 and Wellington in the NPC. By this time, he had fallen out of favor with the All Black selectors, and in 2004 he moved to Japan to play for Suntory Sungoliath. [cite news
title=For All Black Alatini to play in Japan
publisher= AP Worldstream
date=2004-03-19] In 2006, he left Suntory to play for Kamaishi Seawaves. [cite journal
url=http://www.rugint.jumbahost.com/intl-news/Rugby%20in%20Japan/RiJ-vol-3-33.htm
title=Top League Profiles 2006-7 (6) Suntory Sungoliath
journal=Rugby in Japan
volume=3
issue=33
date=2006-10-10
accessdate=2007-01-18]

All Black career

Alatini made his debut for the All Blacks on June 11, 1999, in a 22-11 victory over New Zealand A at Jade Stadium. [cite web
url=http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/teamsheet.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&MT_ID=2042
title=New Zealand vs New Zealand 'A' at Jade Stadium
publisher=Rugby Museum Society of New Zealand
accessdate=2008-07-23] He played his first test on June 26, 1999, in a 54-7 victory over France at Athletic Park. [cite web
url=http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/teamsheet.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&MT_ID=2044
title= New Zealand vs France at Athletic Park
publisher=Rugby Museum Society of New Zealand
accessdate=2008-07-23] He was selected for the 1999 Rugby World Cup squad, playing in a pool match against Italy which the All Blacks won 101-3, [cite web
url=http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/teamsheet.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&MT_ID=2051
title= New Zealand vs Italy at McAlpine Stadium
publisher=Rugby Museum Society of New Zealand
accessdate=2008-07-23] and coming on as a replacement for Tana Umaga in the third-place playoff against South Africa, which South Africa won 22-18. [cite web
url=http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/teamsheet.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&MT_ID=2054
title= New Zealand vs South Africa at Millennium Stadium
publisher=Rugby Museum Society of New Zealand
accessdate=2008-07-23]

Alatini was the All Blacks' first choice second five-eighth during the 2000 Tri Nations, and was selected for the All Blacks' end-of-year tour to France and Italy. He was dropped from the starting line-up for the tests against France, with the selectors preferring Daryl Gibson at second five-eighth due to his more physical defense. [cite news
title=Now it's nine for red and blacks
last=Gray
first=Wynne
work=The New Zealand Herald
date=2000-11-09] He played as an unused reserve in the second test against France, and started the test against Italy. [cite web
url=http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/teamsheet.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&MT_ID=2064
title= New Zealand vs Italy at Luigi Ferraris Stadium
publisher=Rugby Museum Society of New Zealand
accessdate=2008-07-23] He regained his place as the All Blacks' first choice second five-eighth for the 2001 domestic tests and Tri Nations. Alatini played his last test for the All Blacks on September 1, 2001, in a 29-26 loss to Australia at Stadium Australia. [cite web
url=http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/teamsheet.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&MT_ID=2071
title= New Zealand vs Australia at Stadium Australia
publisher=Rugby Museum Society of New Zealand
accessdate=2008-07-23]

After the 2001 Tri Nations, the All Blacks coaches Wayne Smith and Tony Gilbert were replaced by John Mitchell and Robbie Deans. Alatini was selected for the All Blacks for the last time on the 2001 tour of Ireland and Argentina. He was relegated to the mid-week team, with the new coaches preferring Aaron Mauger at second five-eighth for the test matches due to his superior distribution skills. [cite news
title=Mehrtens in tune for test
last=Gray
first=Wynne
work=The New Zealand Herald
date=2001-11-16]

Personal life

Pita married Megan Alatini in 1996. He has 3 children. Two daughters, Tonica and Tiara, and 1 son, Trey.

References

External links

*All Blacks|id=4|name=Pita Alatini