Amato Fakatava

Japanese rugby player
Rugby player
UniversityDaito Bunka University[1]ChildrenTalau Fakatava, Sosefo FakatavaRugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker, Number eight
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019– Black Rams Tokyo 28 (20)
Correct as of 22 April 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023 Japan XV 2 (0)
2023– Japan 6 (20)
Correct as of 28 September 2023

Amato Fakatava (アマト ファカタヴァ, Fakatava Amato, born 7 December 1994) is a Japanese rugby union player. Currently playing as number eight in the back row for the Black Rams Tokyo in the Japan Rugby League One, Fakatava also represents Japan at international level.

Early life

Fakatava was born on 7 December 1994 in Tonga.[3] He attended Tonga College[3] before being educated at Timaru Boys' High School in Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand.[1] After moving to Japan at 20-years-old, Fakatava studied at Daito Bunka University.[1][4]

International career

Fakatava made his international debut for Japan on 22 July 2023 against Samoa in the Pacific Nations Cup. Japan lost 22–24 in Sapporo.[5]

Fakatava was announced in Japan's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad on 29 August.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Amato Fakatava – J Sports". jsports.co.jp (in Japanese). J Sports. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Amato Fakatava – League One". league-one.jp. Japan Rugby League One.
  3. ^ a b c "アマト ファカタヴァ – Amato Fakatava – Black Rams Tokyo". blackrams-tokyo.com (in Japanese). Black Rams Tokyo. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023.
  4. ^ "【日本代表】アマト・ファカタヴァ選手". nhk.or.jp (in Japanese). NHK. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023.
  5. ^ "ラグビー日本代表、サモアに２２－２４で競り負け強化試合３連敗…リーチマイケルが前半で退場" [Japan's rugby team lost their third consecutive training match, losing 22–24 to Samoa... Michael Leitch left the field in the first half]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings. 22 July 2023. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. ドームの屋内グラウンドでの試合で開始時の気温は２２度。日本は開始６分に代表初キャップのＡ・ファカタバ（ＢＲ東京）のトライで先制すると、相手のシンビン（１０分間の退場）で数的優位となった時間帯に、ＳＯ李承信（神戸）がＰＧを決めて加点した。前半３０分にナンバー８のリーチマイケルが危険なタックルで退場処分（レッドカード）となった日本は終了間際にサモアのトライとキックで追いつかれ、同点で折り返した。
  6. ^ "Japan name squad for Rugby World Cup 2023 - UPDATE". Rugby World Cup. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Black Rams Tokyo – current squad
Forwards
Backs
  • Takumi Aoki
  • Daisuke Hamano
  • Kohei Horigome
  • Ichigo Nakakusu
  • Yuki Ikeda
  • Ryohei Isoda
  • Yoshiyuki Koga
  • Yuta Kurihara
  • Siope Lolo Tavo
  • Amanaki Lotoahea
  • Isaac Lucas
  • Taira Main
  • Matt McGahan
  • Takanobu Minami
  • Masatoshi Nakamura
  • Takehiro Nakazawa
  • Daisuke Nishikawa
  • Hadleigh Parkes
  • Larzlow Sword
  • Toshiya Takahashi
  • Netani Vakayalia
  • Shota Yamamoto
  • Tomoya Yamamura
Coach
Squads
  • v
  • t
  • e
Japan squad – 2023 Rugby World Cup
Forwards
Backs
Head coach: Joseph