Lesley Vainikolo
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Lesley Paea 'I'Muli Vainikolo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 4 May 1979 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Nukuʻalofa, Tonga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 112 kg (17 st 9 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | De La Salle College (Auckland) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby league career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Wing | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1997–02 2002–07 |
Canberra Raiders Bradford Bulls |
68 152 |
(140) (598) |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1998–05 | New Zealand | 12 | (56) |
| Position(s) | Wing, Centre | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 2007–12 2012–13 2013- |
Gloucester Rugby La Rochelle Rugby Athletic Club Angerien |
87 13 |
(180) (5) |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 2002 2008 |
Tonga England Barbarians |
5 |
(0) |
Lesley Vainikolo (born 4 May 1979 in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga) is a rugby union and rugby league player. A dual code international, he has played for the New Zealand Kiwis in rugby league and England in rugby union.
He began his career playing rugby league in Australia for the Canberra Raiders of the National Rugby League and later in England for the Bradford Bulls of Super League. He then moved to English rugby union club Gloucester. In both codes, he has usually played as a wing.
Born 4 May 1979 in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga, Vainikolo grew up in south-west Auckland, New Zealand playing rugby union but switched to rugby league as he explains, "I first got into rugby league when I was 11. One of my mates got me into it. His team were short on numbers and my mate asked if I wanted to play. I grew up playing union, so I had the basic skills. I played the game and absolutely loved it. And I've been hooked since." Vainikolo played for the Mangere East Hawks in the Auckland Rugby League competition. He represented Auckland in the 1997 Super League Challenge Cup. He represented the Junior Kiwis in 1998.
...
Wikipedia