# Joe Taufeteʻe

Joseph Soosemea Taufeteʻe (born October 4, 1992) is an American rugby union player who plays as a hooker and prop for the Houston SaberCats in Major League Rugby (MLR). A converted American football player, Taufeteʻe has also previously represented the United States by serving as captain of the USA Selects. He also plays for the United States national team.
He previously played for LA Giltinis in Major League Rugby, Lyon OU in France's Top 14, Worcester Warriors and Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby and the San Diego Breakers in PRO Rugby.

## Early life

Joe Taufeteʻe was born on October 4, 1992 in Nuʻuuli, American Samoa and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area after moving with his family to California at the age of five. Of Samoan descent, Taufeteʻe played American football as a youth and aspired to playing in the NFL. Taufeteʻe attended Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, California and played at defensive tackle for school's football team during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Taufeteʻe earned multiple All-Conference honors during his time with the team, but an ACL injury ended his aspirations of furthering his career in football.

## Rugby career
### Club

Taufete'e began playing rugby with the Belmont Shore U-19 team while studying and playing American football at Santa Ana Community College. He then went to New Zealand to develop his rugby skills.
In early 2016, Taufete'e was signed to a professional contract by the San Diego Breakers. In December 2016, Taufete'e signed a contract to the Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership.
On 26 February 2020, Taufete signed for French side Lyon in the Top 14 ahead of the 2020–21 season. In March 2022, following the birth of his child in California, Taufete’e was granted release from Lyon and was subsequently signed by the LA Giltinis.
In August 2022 Taufete'e signed for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby. Head coach Steve Borthwick described Taufete'e as "a powerful player, in attack and defence". He made his debut on 18 September 2022 as a replacement in a 36-21 win over Newcastle Falcons at Welford Road. He featured 5 times before leaving Tigers in April 2023 to join Houston SaberCats.

### International

The uncapped Taufete'e was a surprise inclusion in the U.S. squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Taufete'e debuted for the United States at the 2015 Rugby World Cup against South Africa. He also played for the U.S. at the 2016, 2017, and 2019 Americas Rugby Championships. The USA star has made 22 appearances for the Eagles, scoring 20 tries. This surpasses former Ireland great Keith Wood, a hooker, for the most international tries by any player in the tight five (i.e., either a hooker, prop, or lock).

## International tries

| Try | Opposing team | Venue | Competition | Date | Result | Score |
| 1 | Chile | Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale | 2016 Americas Rugby Championship | February 20, 2016 | Won | 64–0 |
| 2 | Brazil | Athletic Club, São Paulo | 2016 Americas Rugby Championship | February 27, 2016 | Lost | 23–24 |
| 3 | Tonga | Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastián | Test match | November 19, 2016 | Lost | 17–20 |
| 4 | Canada | Torero Stadium, San Diego | 2019 Rugby World Cup Qualifier | July 1, 2017 | Won | 52–16 |
| 5 | Canada | Torero Stadium, San Diego | 2019 Rugby World Cup Qualifier | July 1, 2017 | Won | 52–16 |
| 6 | Germany | Brita-Arena; Wiesbaden | Test match | November 18, 2017 | Won | 46–17 |
| 7 | Georgia | Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi | Test match | November 25, 2017 | Lost | 20–21 |
| 8 | Georgia | Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi | Test match | November 25, 2017 | Lost | 20–21 |
| 9 | Russia | Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City | Test match | June 9, 2018 | Won | 62–13 |
| 10 | Russia | Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City | Test match | June 9, 2018 | Won | 62–13 |
| 11 | Scotland | BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston | Test match | June 16, 2018 | Won | 30–29 |
| 12 | Scotland | BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston | Test match | June 16, 2018 | Won | 30–29 |
| 13 | Samoa | Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastián | Test match | November 10, 2018 | Won | 30–29 |
| 14 | Ireland | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | Test match | November 24, 2018 | Lost | 14–57 |
| 15 | Chile | Estadio Santiago Bueras; Maipu | 2019 Americas Rugby Championship | February 2, 2019 | Won | 71–8 |
| 16 | Uruguay | Starfire Sports, Tukwila | 2019 Americas Rugby Championship | March 2, 2019 | Lost | 25–32 |
| 17 | Uruguay | Starfire Sports, Tukwila | 2019 Americas Rugby Championship | March 2, 2019 | Lost | 25–32 |
| 18 | Uruguay | Starfire Sports, Tukwila | 2019 Americas Rugby Championship | March 2, 2019 | Lost | 25–32 |
| 19 | Canada | Starfire Sports, Tukwila | 2019 Americas Rugby Championship | March 9, 2019 | Won | 30–25 |
| 20 | Canada | Starfire Sports, Tukwila | 2019 Americas Rugby Championship | March 9, 2019 | Won | 30–25 |
| 21 | Canada | Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado | 2023 Rugby World Cup Qualifier | September 11, 2021 | Won | 38–16 |
| 22 | Chile | Estadio Santa Laura-Universidad SEK, Santiago | 2023 Rugby World Cup Qualifier | July 9, 2022 | Won | 22–21 |
| 23 | Chile | Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado | 2023 Rugby World Cup Qualifier | July 16, 2022 | Lost | 29–31 |