Taioalo Vaivai


Taioalo "Junior" Vaivai is a United States international rugby league footballer who plays as a for Toulouse Olympique in the Championship. He has previously played for the Penrith Panthers, Hull Kingston Rovers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League.

Background

Vaivai was born in Auckland, New Zealand.

Personal life

Vaivai has previously worked as a personal trainer at Aventus Health and Fitness, in Warrawong, Australia.
He is the cousin of American professional wrestler and actor, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Playing career

Early career

Vaivai played his junior rugby league for the Goodna Eagles and the Easts Tigers in Brisbane, Australia.

Playing positions

He primarily plays as a, but he can also play as a.

Senior career

South Sydney Rabbitohs (2009-11)

2009

Covering for an injury to Beau Champion, Vaivai made his National Rugby League début in round 24 of the 2009 season, against the Penrith Panthers.

2009-10

In 2009 and 2010, he played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Youth Competition.
Vaivai scored 39 tries and kicked 33 goals in 42 matches.
Vaivai was named at, in the 2009 National Youth Competition 'Team of the Year.'

2011

On 5 May 2011, Vaivai was stood-down from the Rabbitohs after he was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend.

Penrith Panthers (2011)

2011

Vaivai joined the Penrith Panthers for the remainder of the 2011 season, making his club début as a late call-up to cover for an injury to Luke Lewis.
during his time at the club

Illawarra Cutters (2013)

2013

In 2013, Vaivai joined the Illawarra Cutters in the New South Wales Cup.

Western Suburbs Red Devils (2017)

2017

In 2017, Vaivai played for the Western Suburbs Red Devils in the Illawarra Rugby League competition.

Hull Kingston Rovers (2018 - present)

2018

In February 2018, Vaivai signed a one-year contract with Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League.
After a lengthy and drawn-out Visa application process, which frustratingly prevented Vaivai from making his début for Hull Kingston Rovers, Taioalo finally made his first appearance for Hull Kingston Rovers in round 11 of the 2018 Super League season, in a 40–26 defeat by the Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Junior scored his first try for Hull Kingston Rovers on 13 May 2018, in a 10-28 Challenge Cup home defeat by the Wigan Warriors at Craven Park.
It was revealed on 2 July 2018, that Vaivai had signed a new two-year contract extension to play and remain at Hull Kingston Rovers until at least the end of the 2020 rugby league season.

York City Knights (Loan)

2019

It was announced on 23 May 2019, that Vaivai had joined the York City Knights on a one month loan deal with fellow Hull Kingston Rovers' teammate, Will Oakes.
On 26 May 2019, Vaivai made a try-scoring début for the York City Knights in a 12-16 victory over the Widnes Vikings.

Representative career

USA (2016-17)

2016

Qualifying through his American Samoan mother and grandmother, Vaivai made his début for the United States in their 2016 America's Cup match against Jamaica.

2017

On 24 September 2017, Vaivai was named in the United States' 23-man squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

Representative career statistics

Honours

Individual Honours (Career Awards and Accolades)