| Fullname | Angus Wilkie Faiumiolemau Timaavao |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 22 March 1990 (age 36) |
| Birth place | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Height | 194 cm (6 ft 4 in) |
| Weight | 124 kg (273 lb; 19 st 7 lb) |
| School | Dilworth School |
| Position | Prop |
| Currentclub | Auckland, Blues |
| Years 1 | 2010– |
| Clubs 1 | Auckland |
| Apps 1 | 49 |
| Points 1 | 15 |
| Years 2 | 2012–2015 |
| Clubs 2 | Blues |
| Apps 2 | 49 |
| Points 2 | 10 |
| Years 3 | 2014–2018 |
| Clubs 3 | Taranaki |
| Apps 3 | 34 |
| Points 3 | 5 |
| Years 4 | 2016–2017 |
| Clubs 4 | Waratahs |
| Apps 4 | 22 |
| Points 4 | 15 |
| Years 5 | 2016–2017 |
| Clubs 5 | Northern Suburbs |
| Apps 5 | 12 |
| Points 5 | 12 |
| Years 6 | 2016 |
| Clubs 6 | Sydney Rays |
| Apps 6 | 5 |
| Points 6 | 0 |
| Years 7 | 2018–2023 |
| Clubs 7 | Chiefs |
| Apps 7 | 62 |
| Points 7 | 25 |
| Years 8 | 2023–2025 |
| Clubs 8 | Blues |
| Apps 8 | 25 |
| Points 8 | 15 |
| Years 9 | 2026- |
| Clubs 9 | Highlanders |
| Apps 9 | 1 |
| Points 9 | 5 |
| Repyears 1 | 2010 |
| Repteam 1 | New Zealand U20 |
| Repcaps 1 | 4 |
| Reppoints 1 | 0 |
| Repyears 2 | 2014 |
| Repteam 2 | Barbarian F.C. |
| Repcaps 2 | 2 |
| Reppoints 2 | 0 |
| Repyears 3 | 2018– |
| Repteam 3 | New Zealand |
| Repcaps 3 | 22 |
| Reppoints 3 | 15 |
| Repyears 4 | 2020 |
| Repteam 4 | North Island |
| Repcaps 4 | 1 |
| Reppoints 4 | 0 |
| Clubupdate | 13 March 2026 |
| Repupdate | 13 March 2026 |
Angus Wilkie Faiumiolemau Taavao (born 22 March 1990) is a New Zealand-born rugby union player, currently playing as a prop for the Highlanders in Super Rugby and Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup. Taavao was called into New Zealand's international team, the All Blacks, as injury cover in 2018 and has played 22 tests since his international debut. Taavao was a member of New Zealand's squad in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Taavao has previously represented the Chiefs and the Blues in Super Rugby, and Taranaki in the NPC. New Zealand's domestic rugby competition, as well as Northern Suburbs, Sydney and the Waratahs in Australia.
Early life
Although born in New Zealand, Taavao would also have been eligible to play international rugby for Australia through his mother, or for Samoa through his father.[citation needed]
Taavao was schooled at Dilworth School in Auckland, New Zealand.[1]
Career
Early career
Taavao was selected for the New Zealand U20 side for the 2010 tournament in Argentina, where he captained the side in his first match. He made his Auckland debut in the same year.[2]
Taavao was a member of the Blues wider training group in 2011. He was a member of the full Blues squad from the 2012 until the 2015.
2016–2018
Taavao signed a two-year contract for the Waratahs and Sydney Rays for 2016 through 2017. Taavao signed for the Chiefs for the 2018 Super Rugby season and became a regular starter for them early in the season, with established All Blacks Nepo Laulala and Atunaisa Moli ruled out with serious injuries. Taavao was one of the best-performing players in the Chiefs during 2018 and was called into the All Blacks, as injury cover for Crusaders prop, Joe Moody.
Taavao made his international debut for New Zealand on 29 September 2018, during the fifth round of the 2018 Rugby Championship, against Argentina's Los Pumas, at Buenos Aires. Taavao replaced Blues prop, Ofa Tuungafasi, off the bench in the 51st minute and had a good impact off the bench, contributing towards a highly dominant scrum. The All Blacks beat Los Pumas 35–17, winning the Rugby Championship in the process. Taavao then made two more appearances for New Zealand on their end-of-season tour, including a start in a 69–31 win over Japan.[3]
2019
With Tim Perry not considered for selection due to injury, Taavao was named in New Zealand's squad for the 2019 Rugby Championship. After a start against Argentina and appearing as a substitute against South Africa, as well as the record 26–47 defeat to Australia, Taavao established himself as a regular replacement off the bench for New Zealand, alongside Auckland teammate, Ofa Tuungafasi.
On 28 August, All Blacks Head Coach, Steve Hansen named Taavao as one of 31 players in New Zealand's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[4] With 108-test veteran, Owen Franks missing out on the squad entirely, Taavao's selection received widespread news coverage.[5] Franks claimed that Taavao, as well as Nepo Laulala, "deserve their places in the World Cup squad".[6]
Taavao played in all of New Zealand's tests during the competition, starting in a 63–0 victory over Canada, also scoring his first try for New Zealand in a 71–9 win over Namibia. Having proved himself as a star performer for the All Blacks, Taavao also came off the bench in all three knockout tests of the World Cup, with New Zealand beating Wales 40–17 in the Bronze Final, claiming third place.
Honours
New Zealand
- Rugby World Cup / Webb Ellis Cup
- Third-place: 2019
Blues
- Super Rugby Pacific Champions
Taranaki
- ITM Cup Champions
References
- ^ "Dilworth School seeks benefactor to start girls' school". nzherald.co.nz. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- ^ "Auckland Rugby Union - Angus Taavao". Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
- ^ "Steve Hansen's All Blacks second-stringers power past Japan in entertaining tryfest". Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- ^ "All Blacks squad named for Rugby World Cup 2019". allblacks.com. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ "'He's given everything' - teammates feeling for Owen Franks after World Cup omission". TVNZ. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- ^ "Owen Franks hits back at critics following omission from Rugby World Cup squad". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 8 November 2019.