A young scrumhalf that burst onto the scene as a schoolboy with Hastings Boys' High School helping the side to two national finals losing the first but winning the second in an undefeated season in 2017.
Fakatava represented the New Zealand Schoolboy Barbarians in 2016 and the Hurricanes u18 side in 2017. He was set to feature for the New Zealand Schoolboys in 2017 but was struck by injury.
An incredibly talented scrumhalf, Fakatava featured for Hawke's Bays in his first year out of school and his efforts in the Mitre 10 Cup earned him a Super Rugby contract with the Highlanders for 2019.
He was named on the bench for the Highlanders round three clashes with the Rebels. Although not a big man, he really enjoys the physical parts of the game and this is evident in the way he approaches defence.
Fakatava took his Super Rugby cap tally to 5 by the end of the 2020 Super Rugby and Super Rugby Aotearoa seasons.
He went on to start for Hawke's Bay as they won the Mitre 10 Cup Championship and was later named as the Player of the Tournament.
On 5 December 2020, Fakatava played for the Moana Pasifika team in a one-off match against the Māori All Blacks.
On 13 June 2022, Fakatava was – for the first time – named in the All Blacks squad. He made his test debut for New Zealand on 9 July 2022 against Ireland.
s.c April 2023
Career
Hawke's Bay Scrum Half |
2018 - present | |
Highlanders Scrum Half |
2019 - present | |
New Zealand Scrum Half |
2022 - 2023 | |
All Blacks XV Scrum Half |
2023 - 2024 |