Malakai Fonokalafi Fekitoa was born on 10 May 1992 and is a Tongan rugby union player who plays as a centre.
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18 Facts About Malakai Fekitoa
2.
Malakai Fekitoa previously played for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, Auckland in the ITM Cup, and for New Zealand internationally.
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3.
Malakai Fekitoa was a member of the title-winning 2015 Highlanders side, and of the 2015 Rugby World Cup-winning New Zealand side.
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4.
Malakai Fekitoa was a key member of the Highlanders title winning-side in 2015.
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5.
In July 2017, Malakai Fekitoa confirmed that he had signed a two-year contract with French Top 14 side Toulon.
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6.
Malakai Fekitoa was only eligible for selection for the New Zealand after completing three years post-education residency in New Zealand.
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7.
Malakai Fekitoa's performance earned praise, with the Herald on Sunday saying that "the All Blacks coach has found the most elegant of solutions for Conrad Smith's back-up, one who carries more of an attacking threat than the veteran centre".
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8.
Malakai Fekitoa was selected again in 2014 for the New Zealand squad for The Rugby Championship.
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9.
Malakai Fekitoa was originally named as a reserve for the first test against Australia with Conrad Smith and his wife expecting, Fekitoa was called up into the starting XV.
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10.
Malakai Fekitoa was a member of the 2015 Rugby World Cup winning New Zealand side.
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11.
Malakai Fekitoa became a regular starter for the All Blacks in 2016, combining with Ryan Crotty to form the midfield partnership for the Wales series in June.
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12.
Malakai Fekitoa began to experience very erratic form however, and did not play against Argentina and South Africa that year.
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13.
Malakai Fekitoa lost his starting spot to Anton Lienert-Brown, coming off the bench for the final Bledisloe Cup and the first Ireland fixture that year.
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14.
Malakai Fekitoa re-gained his starting spot for the next two tests due to Crotty being injured, with Lienert Brown moving to inside centre so that Malakai Fekitoa could play outside centre.
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15.
Malakai Fekitoa scored 2 tries in two games, the All Blacks were against Italy and Ireland.
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16.
Malakai Fekitoa was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle against Ireland, so was cited and suspended for the final test match of the year.
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17.
Malakai Fekitoa played his final test match for New Zealand on 8 July 2017 in the final test against the Lions, coming off the bench to replace Ngani Laumape.
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18.
In 2022, Malakai Fekitoa was selected in the Tongan squad for the 2022 Pacific Nations Cup, having become eligible after World Rugby's eligibility rules were amended to allow for players to switch national allegiance after completing a stand-down period.
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