# Tahiti national rugby union team

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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.
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
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Match venue |
| 1996* | Cook Islands | round-robin | Papua New Guinea | Rarotonga |
| 2002* | Papua New Guinea | 29–14 16–21 | Cook Islands | Port Moresby Rarotonga |
| 2003 | Niue | round-robin | Cook Islands | Auckland Rarotonga |
| 2004 | Cook Islands | 50–5 | Niue | Rarotonga |
| 2005* | Cook Islands | 37–12 11–20 | Papua New Guinea | Rarotonga Port Moresby |
| 2006 | The final of the 2006 FORU Cup between Vanuatu and Niue was cancelled. | The final of the 2006 FORU Cup between Vanuatu and Niue was cancelled. | The final of the 2006 FORU Cup between Vanuatu and Niue was cancelled. | The final of the 2006 FORU Cup between Vanuatu and Niue was cancelled. |
Oceania Cup
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Match venue |
| 2007† | Papua New Guinea | 46–27 | Niue | Paliati, Alofi |
| 2008 | Niue | 27–5 | New Caledonia | Nouméa |
| 2009* | Papua New Guinea | 29–21 | Cook Islands | Port Moresby |
| 2011 | Papua New Guinea | round-robin | Solomon Islands | Port Moresby |
| 2013* | Cook Islands | round-robin | Papua New Guinea | Port Moresby |
| 2015 | Papua New Guinea | round-robin | Tahiti | Port Moresby |
| 2017* | Tahiti | 13–9 | Cook Islands | Rarotonga |
| 2019 | Papua New Guinea | round-robin | Niue | 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

World Cup record :
| Year | Round | P | W | D | L | F | A |
| 1987 | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited | Not invited |
| 1991 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1995 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 1999 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2003 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2007 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2011 | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate |
| 2015 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2019 | Disqualified | Disqualified | Disqualified | Disqualified | Disqualified | Disqualified | Disqualified |
| 2023 | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended |
| Total | 0/9 | – | – | – | – | – | – |

### Overall

Tahiti are currently ranked 84th on the World Rugby Rankings table.
| Against | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn |
| American Samoa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Cook Islands | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Fiji | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| France | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Italy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| New Caledonia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Niue | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Papua New Guinea | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Samoa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Solomon Islands | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Tonga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wallis and Futuna | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 29 | 7 | 22 | 0 |

## Players

Tahiti Nui XV "Aito"
Head coach: Romi Ropati
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Club |
| David Lahille | Hooker | (1990-03-20) 20 March 1990 (age 34) | L'Isle-Jourdain |
| Martin Taeae | Prop | (1991-07-24) 24 July 1991 (age 33) | Valence-d'Agen |
| Patrick Tevero | Prop | (1993-12-02) 2 December 1993 (age 30) | La Roche-sur-Yon |
| Angus Chales | Prop | (1993-11-28) 28 November 1993 (age 30) | Pirae |
| Brandon Tihata | Prop | (1996-04-29) 29 April 1996 (age 28) | Le Mans |
| Loic Tautu | Forward | (1983-09-13) 13 September 1983 (age 41) | Arue |
| Jean Tautu | Forward | (2000-06-19) 19 June 2000 (age 24) | |
| Torea Morou | Lock | (1991-08-09) 9 August 1991 (age 33) | Chartres |
| Lehi Tematafaarere | Lock | (1989-07-29) 29 July 1989 (age 35) | Chartres |
| Andrew Vanaa | Back Row | (1989-12-23) 23 December 1989 (age 34) | Isle |
| Haley Teuira | Flanker | (1986-04-16) 16 April 1986 (age 38) | Pirae |
| Tunui Anania (c) | Flanker | (1989-04-07) 7 April 1989 (age 35) | Valence-d'Agen |
| Manuarii Richmond | Number 8 | (1988-04-14) 14 April 1988 (age 36) | Faa'a |
| Guillaume Brouqui | Scrum-half | (1985-07-21) 21 July 1985 (age 39) | Trélissac |
| Raihau Taurei | Scrum-half | (1994-11-28) 28 November 1994 (age 29) | Pirae |
| Andoni Jimenez | Fly-half | (1989-08-03) 3 August 1989 (age 35) | Nantes |
| Anthony Tesquet | Fly-half | (1986-02-17) 17 February 1986 (age 38) | La Teste-de-Buch |
| Ganaham Huuti | Back | (1997-10-03) 3 October 1997 (age 27) | |
| Teariki Wong Sung | Back | (1993-02-24) 24 February 1993 (age 31) | Le Mans |
| Tamahao Opeta | Centre | (1997-10-29) 29 October 1997 (age 27) | |
| Mathieu Taulelle | Centre | (1992-01-23) 23 January 1992 (age 32) | La Hulpe |
| Taitearii Mahuru | Centre | (1989-12-21) 21 December 1989 (age 34) | Pirae |
| Vincent Perez | Wing | (1989-04-17) 17 April 1989 (age 35) | Tournon-d'Agenais |
| James Tekurio | Wing | (1984-05-05) 5 May 1984 (age 40) | Muret |
| Makalea Foliaki | Wing | (1996-09-24) 24 September 1996 (age 28) | Cognac Saint-Jean-d'Angély |
| Jean-Teiva Jacquelain | Wing | (1994-04-22) 22 April 1994 (age 30) | Mont-de-Marsan |
| François Tardieu | Fullback | (1995-02-01) 1 February 1995 (age 29) | Valence-d'Agen |
| Cedric Martin | Fullback | (1989-06-29) 29 June 1989 (age 35) | FCTT |

### Notable players

| Player | Notability |
| Jean-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 7s |
| Timi 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 France to celebrate Bastille Day in Papeete on 14 July 1981:
* Enrique Rodríguez (dual international for Argentina & Australia)
* Brett Codlin (All Blacks, 1980)
* Robert Kururangi (All Blacks, 1978 & Māori All Blacks, 1982)
* Tim Twigden (All Blacks, 1979–80)