David Ainuʻu

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David Ainuʻu
Full nameDavid Faimafiliotamaʻitaʻi Ainuʻu
Date of birth (1999-11-20) 20 November 1999 (age 24)
Place of birthAmerican Samoa
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight275 lb (125 kg)
SchoolCapital High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
 
 
 
 –2017		 Prairie RFC
Liberty
Washington Loggers
Seattle Saracens		 ()
Correct as of 6 March 2019
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017– Toulouse 60 (0)
Correct as of 10 April 2023[1]
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
 

2018–		 United States U19
United States U20
United States		  
 
19		  
 
(5)
Correct as of 3 May 2023

David Faimafiliotamaʻitaʻi Ainuʻu (born 20 November 1999)[2] is a rugby union player who plays as a prop for Toulouse in France's Top14 and for the United States men's national team. Ainuʻu has also represented the United States with multiple age-grade sides—including the United States national under-20 rugby union team.

Early life[edit]

David Ainuʻu was born in American Samoa[3][4] on 20 November 1999.[2] Ainuʻu was first introduced to rugby when he was the water boy for his brother's team.[5] He first played rugby himself with Prairie RFC in Yelm, Washington.[5] Ainuʻu was also selected to play for the Washington Loggers, Rugby Washington's state-level representative side.[5] Ainuʻu attended Capital High School in Olympia, Washington.[6]

Club career[edit]

Prior to December 2017, Ainuʻu played rugby for Seattle Saracens in the CDI Premier League.[5] In December 2017, Ainuʻu signed a six-month academy contract with Toulouse in France's Top14.[4] (Ainuʻu had previously agreed to join the Seattle Seawolves for Major League Rugby's inaugural 2018 season, but ended that agreement before the season began in order to play at the higher-level of competition.)[7] In September 2018, Ainuʻu re-signed with Toulouse, committing to the club through the 2020–21 season.[8] Ainuʻu made his Top 14 debut for Toulouse on 23 September 2018, appearing as a halftime-substitute in a 66–15 defeat to Montpellier.[9][10]

International career[edit]

USA Junior All-Americans[edit]

Ainuʻu was named to the United States national under-20 rugby union team (Junior All-Americans) ahead of a pair of 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy qualification matches against Canada.[8]

USA Eagles[edit]

Ainuʻu was first named to the roster of the United States senior national team ahead of the 2018 June rugby union tests,[11] but did not make an appearance for the team at that time, instead playing for the Junior All-Americans.[8] Ainuʻu made his debut for the Eagles on 10 November 2018, appearing as a substitute, in the Eagles' 30–29 victory over Samoa during the 2018 end-of-year tests.[12] Ainuʻu made his first appearance in the Eagles' starting lineup on 2 March 2019 in a 32–25 defeat to Uruguay during the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "David AINU'U, Prop". its rugby. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b "David Ainuʻu". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  3. ^ Kinsella, Murray (22 October 2018). "Toulouse's exciting young guns show the way as Leinster come up short". The42.ie. Toulouse. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b "USA prospect David Ainuʻu signs for Toulouse". Americas Rugby News. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d Wade, Gareth (27 December 2017). "Dave Ainuu Lands in France with Stade Toulousain". Seattle Saracens. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  6. ^ "David Ainuu". USA Rugby. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  7. ^ Goff, Alex (27 December 2017). "Top USA Prospect David Ainuu Signs With Toulouse". FloRugby. FloSports. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  8. ^ a b c "Ainuʻu extends Toulouse stay, called into Senior Squad". Americas Rugby News. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  9. ^ Goff, Alex (5 October 2018). "Ainuu Getting Time with Toulouse". Goff Rugby Report. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Montpellier v Toulouse". RugbyPass. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  11. ^ "Ainuʻu called up to Eagles squad". Americas Rugby News. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  12. ^ "United States of America Tour - San Sebastian, 10 November 2018, 18:30 local, 17:30 GMT". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  13. ^ "Americas Rugby Championship - Seattle, 2 March 2019, 19:10 local, 03:10 GMT +1d". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
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