USA Eagle Tevita Tameilau adds size and experience to the Warriors pack

Salt Lake City, UT (March 13, 2018) — The Utah Warriors today announced the signing USA Eagle 475, Tevita Tameilau, and the 6’5, 260 lb flanker and lock, for the inaugural season of Major League Rugby.

“I’m extremely excited about signing with the Warriors this season,” said Tameilau. “Truly am grateful for the opportunity and it means so much that I get to come back to the states and continue to help grow the game. I’m really looking forward to being surrounded by a group of solid brothers in an amazing environment and know we can really bring some excitement to Major League Rugby.”

Tameilau is a California native and started playing rugby as a teen with the Peninsula Green High School Rugby Club. He impressed selectors as a utility loose forward/lock and earned representative honors playing for the USA U18, U19 and U20 teams going to Kenya for the Junior World Cup in 2008.

“Tevita’s a big powerful man with the ball in hand and on the defensive side of the game” – Head Coach Alf Daniels

After graduating from Serra High School (San Mateo, CA) Tameilau went on to play football at San Francisco City College as a defensive end. Following his time at SFCC Tameilau served a two-year religious mission in Phoenix, Arizona. When he returned home Tameilau went on to play football for West Texas A&M.

Shortly after leaving West Texas A&M Tameilau moved back to the Bay Area and returned to rugby for local powerhouse San Francisco Golden Gate. In 2015 USA Rugby awarded Tameilau a scholarship to attend and play for Taranaki Rugby Academy, New Zealand for 6 weeks. The following season, Tameilau played for the Life West College Gladiators under head coach Adriann Ferris, and grabbed the attention of selectors making his Eagles debut in the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship. Tameilau is Eagle number 475 and has most recently played his rugby with RC Narbonne in France.

“Tevita’s a big powerful man with the ball in hand and on the defensive side of the game,” said Utah Warriors Head Coach Alf Daniels. “I think he’s going to lead the way for our boys by bringing some physicality, and his experience playing in a professional environment in France will be invaluable.”