Emmanuel Meafou

Emmanuel Latu-Meafou (born 12 July 1998) is an Australian rugby union player with the French Top 14 side Toulouse. At 203 cm tall, and weighing over 140 kg, Meafou is used as a lock.

Emmanuel Meafou
Full nameEmmanuel Latu-Meafou[1]
Date of birth (1998-07-12) 12 July 1998
Place of birthNew Zealand
Height203 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Weight145 kg (320 lb)
SchoolIpswich Grammar School[1]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Toulouse
Youth career
–2016 Brothers
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018 Warringah 17 (15)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 Melbourne Rising 6 (0)
2018 NSW Country Eagles 7 (5)
2019– Toulouse 65 (75)
Correct as of 24 January 2023

Rugby career

Meafou began his career originally in South East Queensland (Ipswich), playing rugby league.[2] Switching to rugby union, playing youth rugby union for Brothers,[1] he was selected to play for the Queensland II side in the Australian Schools Rugby Championships.[3] Throughout 2017–18 he was playing in both club rugby (Shute Shield) and the professional National Rugby Championship (NRC) competition, racking up a combined thirty appearances. Following his season in 2018, making over twenty-four of his total thirty caps, he had a brief opportunity to play in the National Football League (NFL) via the International Player Pathway Program.[4] Meafou stated: “Rugby was still a passion and dream of mine. The only reason I went down the NFL road was because I had no offers. For me rugby was over.”[5] Between 2018–19 Meafou switched sports again, citing no offers to play rugby in Australia. After his agent allegedly sent footage of Meafou to French rugby clubs, he received a number of offers before accepting to play with the Toulouse academy.[5][6]

International career

Being born in New Zealand and moving to Australia as a child, Meafou is eligible to play for both the All Blacks and the Wallabies. However, being an uncapped player he would no be allowed to be selected via the Giteau Law policy. Meafou has said he would like to play for France.[7]

Honours

References
  1. "My Rise in My Words: Emmanuel Latu-Meafou". melbournerebels.rugby. Rebel Media. 26 September 2017.
  2. "Lock Meafou says au revoir to Wallabies". 7news.com.au. 19 April 2022.
  3. "Australian Schools Championships: Team Lists". rugbynews.net.au. 27 June 2015.
  4. Bruce, Sam (20 November 2018). "Behind the scenes at the NFL International Combine Australia". ESPN.
  5. Frost, Stefan (17 April 2022). "The 6'8", 145kg Aussie who chose Toulouse over a shot at the NFL". RugbyPass.
  6. "Emmanuel Meafou – Stade Toulousain". stadetoulousain.fr.
  7. "Aussie lock Emmanuel Meafou wants to play for France". ESPNscrum. 20 April 2022.
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