1
VIDEO: Taufa'ao Filise has broken one of professional rugby's oldest records
By Ian Cameron
The Rugby Paper is reporting that Taufa'ao Filise is the oldest player ever to be awarded a new professional contract.
The 6'2, 124kg prop has signed a fresh one year deal with the Cardiff Blues, where he's played his rugby for the last decade.
The giant front row forward is an exceptionally strong player who can play on both sides of the scrum having joined the Cardiff Blues from Bath Rugby in 2006.
Filise, grew up in Tonga and went to Tupou College in Nuku’alofa. In 2000 he joined Bay of Plenty in New Zealand and later the Auckland Blues Super Rugby side, where he played alongside former Blues Number 8, Xavier Rush. Filise has represented Tonga 29 times and was a member of their 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cup squads.
Filise has confirmed his integral place in the Blues pack and is the leading appearance maker in the region's history as he closes in on 200 games for Cardiff Blues - a feat never achieved by a player at the region.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
3
Suaalii strikes awe as Wallabies lose midfielder
4
Scott Robertson responds about handling errors
5
Latest Comments
I guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
Go to commentsWhatever let's see if this load of waffle is still valid in 2 years time. ABs will rise we have a lot of new talent coming through. The NPC was the highest standard for years. The game is changing to suit the fast pace we like to play. We get to play the Springboks more, including the franchises, which will make us better! Overall I am optimistic. I will add having watched the England game multiple times we made most of the play. England are an awesome physical team, but you can expect the All Blacks to get better and better at executing the chances. It could easily have been 5 tries to one instead of 3 to 1.
Go to comments