Romain Taofifenua rugby player
Romain Taofifenua rugby player

Romain Taofifenua

14th Sep 1990 2.03m/135kg No 4 Lock

Taofifénua's rugby career began in 2005 while playing for Limoges. He later moved to play for Clermont in the 2007–08 Top 14 season.

He played youth rugby for France representing the under 18, 19, and 20s. Despite signing in 2008, he didn't receive his debut for Clermont until 20 August 2010, during the 2010–11 Top 14 season. In that season, he made 3 appearances for Perpignan.

In the 2011–12 Top 14 season, he became a more consistent player in the team, making 23 starts in 28 appearances.

In 2012 he made his France senior debuted against Argentina. After the 2013–14 Top 14 season, where Perpignan was relegated, Taofifénua signed with Toulon, who were both European and Domestic champions. His first Toulon appearance came on 15 August 2014 against Bayonne, in a 29–15 victory.

He played in 29/35 games during the 16/17 season, scoring three tries. His tireless work in the engine room for the French giants has earned him a starting role in the TOP 14 final.

Taofifienua was named in the French squad to tour to South Africa for a three-match Test Series, he had made 8 previous appearances for the national side ahead of the competition.

He continued to perform for Toulon and France and took his test cap tally 14 during the 2019 Six Nations but missed out on a selection for the Rugby World Cup.

Taofifenua regained his place in the French squad after the World Cup and took his test cap to 25 by the end of the 2021 Six Nations.

In April 2021, he signed a deal to join Lyon at the end of the 2021 season on a three-year contract.

Taofifenua was part of the French team that won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2022. He also swapped shirts with South Africa's Eben Etzebeth after France beat the Springboks in 2022.

Ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023, Taofifenua has been named in the training squad for France.

ML July 2023

Career

France France
No 4 Lock
2013 - present
logo_lou_2009 Lyon
Fly Half
2021 - present
image (3) Clermont Auvergne
No 4 Lock
2007 - 2008
image France U20's
No 4 Lock
2009 - 2010
logo-usap-rugby Perpignan
No 4 Lock
2010 - 2014
image France XV
No 4 Lock
2017 - 2021
toulon_rugby_logo RC Toulon
No 5 Lock
2014 - 2021