The Tahiti national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union team, representing the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. They first played in 1971 and have played numerous games to date, most against rivals Cook Islands and several against Niue. Other games have been played against Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. France played a match against Tahiti at the end of their 1979 tour and won 92–12.* Plans to have annual "test" match series against Pacific island neighbours, New Caledonia have been put on hold, due to time, availability, finances, and coaching and refereeing resources. They have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Tahiti is administered by the Fédération Tahitienne de Rugby de Polynésie Française. Currently, players who have represented or played for the Tahiti national rugby team, are eligible to represent France. However, playing at a professional level can only enable this. At present there are several Tahitian professional rugby players abroad in France's Top 14 and Pro D2 professional competition.
History
Rugby is greatly growing in popularity in Tahiti, but the national sport still remains soccer.
Rugby came to Tahiti via three separate streams, firstly, through the visits of British, New Zealand and Australian sailors; secondly, through the French presence (many of the main teams are still French military); and thirdly through contact with neighbouring Pacific islands, where the game is popular.
Tahiti first played the game in 1971.
It was founded in 1989 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1994.
It is also a full member of Oceania Rugby, which is the governing body for rugby union in Oceania.
Up to 2003, Tahiti played in international rugby sevens (Pacific Games) and XV-a-side, in the qualifying rounds for the Rugby World Cup. Archives du Rugby: Mayotte retrieved 8 September 2009
In 2006, there were fourteen clubs in the national championship and two divisions. There were also sevens competitions, women's rugby, and under-18 rugby competitions as well.
In 2017 Tahiti won the Oceania Rugby Cup, beating their rivals Cook Islands at BCI Stadium in Rarotonga, Cook Islands by a score of 13–9.
Uniform and colors Tahiti's kit are typically All red with white tribal, designs, etc. They also can be seen using a white jersey with red tribal, designs, etc. In the past they have used all white kits with red as their secondary color, and also Red jersey with the Tahitian flag colors and black shorts.
Kit providers Year Kit Manufacturer Main Shirt Sponsor 1971–1979 — 1979–1980 — 1980–1982 — 1982–1983 — 1982–1983 — 1983–1997 — 1997–2001 — 2001–2003 — 2003–2005 Puma — 2005–2006 — 2006–2013 — 2013–2015 — 2015–present Sportif JRH Air Tahiti Nui
Home grounds Tahiti have played most of their home matches at Stade Pater Te Hono Nui and Stade Fautaua.
Tahiti has also hosted matches for numerous Pacific Games and Oceania Cup. They share these venues with the Tahiti national football team and club sides from both rugby and football.
Annually Tahiti hosts the Papeete International Sevens Tournament.
Record Oceania Cup Tahiti competes in the Oceania Cup which is played against seven other Pacific nations: American Samoa, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Tahiti has competed in the very first Oceania Cup when it was created in 1997. Since 2015, Tahiti has played 4 matches against: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, American Samoa and Cook Islands recording a record of 3 wins and 1 loss. Their only loss was to 2015 Oceania Cup Champions Papua New Guinea, and until this date, it has been their only loss since then. They placed second in the standings table and were Runner-up in the tournament. In 2017 they won the Oceania Cup beating their rival Cook Islands in the 2017 Oceania Cup Championship by a score of 9–13 in Avarua, Cook Islands.
Oceania tournaments YearWinnerScoreRunner-upMatch venue Refs 1996* round-robin Rarotonga 2002* 29–1416–21 Port MoresbyRarotonga 2003 round-robin AucklandRarotonga 2004 50–5 Rarotonga It is unclear whether this competition included any other game apart from the one between Niue and Cook Islands 2005* 37–1211–20 RarotongaPort Moresby The competition also served as rounds 1 and 2 of Oceania qualification for 2007 Rugby World Cup. 2006 The final of the 2006 FORU Cup between Vanuatu and Niue was cancelled. Oceania Cup YearWinnerScoreRunner-upMatch venue Refs 2007 46–27 Paliati, Alofi "Niue Island v Papua New Guinea at Paliati". ESPN Scrum. 22 April 2008. 2008 27–5 Nouméa 2009* 29–21 Port Moresby Crucial qualifiers IRB. (2009). 2011 round-robin Port Moresby PNG claim Oceania Cup IRB. (2011). 2013* round-robin Port Moresby 2015 round-robin Port Moresby 2017* 13–9 Rarotonga 2019 round-robin Port Moresby
Notes: Part of the Rugby World Cup qualification process. The final of the 2007 tournament was not held until April 2008. Starting from 2009, the tournament has been held biennially.
Rugby World Cup record Rugby World Cup record Year Qualification status 1987Not Invited 1991Did Not Qualify 1995Did Not Qualify 1999Did Not Qualify 2003Did Not Qualify 2007Did Not Qualify 2011Did Not Enter 2015Did Not Qualify 2019Disqualified 2023Suspended 2027Did Not Enter 2031To be determined
Overall Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Tahiti national XV at test level up until 30 August 2015, updated after match with .
Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn % Won 1 1 0 0 % 9 1 8 0 % 1 0 1 0 0% 1 0 1 0 0% 1 0 1 0 0% 1 1 0 0 % 5 0 5 0 0% 3 0 3 0 0% 1 0 1 0 0% 3 1 2 0 % 1 0 1 0 0% 2 1 1 0 %Total 29 5 24 0 %
Players Tahiti Nui XV "Aito"
Head coach: Romi Ropati
Player Position Date of birth (age) Club David Lahille Hooker L'Isle-Jourdain Martin Taeae Prop Valence-d'Agen Patrick Tevero Prop La Roche-sur-Yon Angus Chales Prop Pirae Brandon Tihata Prop Le Mans Loic TautuForward Arue Jean Tautu Forward Torea MorouLock Chartres Lehi Tematafaarere Lock Chartres Andrew Vanaa Back Row Isle Haley Teuira Flanker Pirae Tunui Anania (c) Flanker Valence-d'Agen Manuarii Richmond Number 8 Faʻaʻā Guillaume Brouqui Scrum-half Trélissac Raihau Taurei Scrum-half Pirae Andoni Jimenez Fly-half Nantes Anthony Tesquet Fly-half La Teste-de-Buch Ganaham Huuti Back Teariki Wong Sung Back Le Mans Tamahao Opeta Centre Mathieu Taulelle Centre La Hulpe Taitearii Mahuru Centre Pirae Vincent Perez Wing Tournon-d'Agenais James Tekurio Wing Muret Makalea Foliaki Wing Cognac Saint-Jean-d'Angély Jean-Teiva Jacquelain Wing Mont-de-Marsan François Tardieu Fullback Valence-d'Agen Cedric Martin Fullback FCTT
Notable players Player NotabilityJean-Teiva Jacquelain Played for Toulon(Academy) and La Rochelle in Top 14 and Grenoble(Pro D2), currently playing with Mont-de-Marsan in Pro D2 and France 7sTimi Frogier Richard Mapuhi Played for French Club Pau in Pro D2 (49 caps, 1990–1994)Tauirai Bessert Apolosi Foliaki Makalea Foliaki Played for Toulon(Academy) in Top 14, now playing with Cognac Saint-Jean-d'Angély in Nationale, he is the son of former player Apolosi Foliaki.Tihoti Tamarono François Tardieu Played for Agen(Top 14), Colomiers(Pro D2, Now plays with Valence d’agen(Fédérale 1)Vakatini Atuahiva (JJ) Played for Counties Manukau Steeelers NZ 1982, 1991–1995: Manawatu 1984–1990 NZ:, NZ All Black Colts 1982 & 1984: NZ Divisional XV 1993: NZ Maori All Black 1994: Cook Island 7s and XV
Guest players These players were capped for Tahiti in an invitational match against to celebrate Bastille Day in Papeete on 14 July 1981: Enrique Rodríguez (dual international for & ) Brett Codlin (All Blacks, 1980) Robert Kururangi (All Blacks, 1978 & Māori All Blacks, 1982) Tim Twigden (All Blacks, 1979–80)
See also Rugby union in Tahiti
References