France
Emmanuel Meafou
Nationality
Age
26
Position
Lock
Height
203cm
Weight
140kg
News
Latest
339d Six Nations
Alldritt to captain France squad including 145kg lock Meafou
408d Six Nations
France given major Six Nations boost as Emmanuel Meafou is officially eligible
550d France
Update on injury suffered by Emmanuel Meafou isn't good – report
617d International Rugby
Emmanuel Meafou delivers verdict on national allegiance
629d International Rugby
Eddie Jones ends Wallabies speculation on Emmanuel Meafou
Bio
Emmanuel Meafou is a New Zealand lock known for his technical skill within the game. He began his senior career in 2017 playing for Melbourne Rising before spending time with Warringah and NSW Country Eagles. In 2019, Meafou moved to Top 14 club Toulouse. Then, in 2023, he secured French nationality. Following this, he eventually joined the French national team in 2024.
Meafou was born in New Zealand on 12 July 1998. He moved to Sydney at two years old and grew up in Ipswich, South East Queensland. He began playing rugby league when he was five, but switched to rugby union when he was 16. In 2015, he played in the Australian Schools Rugby Championship.
In 2017 Meafou’s club career began with Melbourne Rising during the National Rugby Championship. One year later, he played for both Warringah and NSW Country Eagles.
After struggling to secure a club spot in Australia, he received some positive responses from French clubs. As a result, he joined Toulouse’s youth development system. He then made his debut for the club in December 2019.
The move has been highly successful for Meafou. Over the years he has achieved several honours with the club, including multiple European Rugby Champions Cup trophies and Top 14 titles.
Despite being eligible to play for New Zealand, Australia and Samoa (through his parents), his love for France led him to join the French national team in 2024. He was first called up in March 2023 as an additional training player due to his ineligibility to play for the country at that time.
He was offered a place in the 2023 Rugby World Cup in the Australian squad, but he declined this offer in order to represent France.
After obtaining nationality, he joined the French national team for the 2024 Six Nations Championship. He didn't make his debut until March 2024, due to sustaining an injury which prevented his participation in the first three rounds.
Meafou is a highly skilled lock who has given some outstanding performances throughout his career. We’re excited to see a lot more from him in the future.