Utah Warriors & David Tameilau

The Utah Warriors announced today the signing USA Eagle, Tevita Tameilau, a 6’5, 260 lb flanker, and lock, for the inaugural season of Major League Rugby.

Tameilau is from Redwood City, California and started playing rugby with the Peninsula Green High School Rugby Club. He was a versatile athlete there, playing No.8, flanker, lock, and center. He earned representative honors playing for the USA Rugby U18, U19 and U20 teams. In 2007 he played at the U19 World Cup and in 2008 went to Kenya for the Junior World Cup.

After graduating from Serra High School in San Mateo, California, Tameilau went on to play football at San Francisco City College as a defensive end. He then served a two-year religious mission in Phoenix, Arizona and when he returned home, went to West Texas A&M, an NCAA Division II College to play football.

After leaving West Texas A&M, Tameilau moved back to the Bay Area and played rugby for San Francisco Golden Gate in the 2015 Pacific Rugby Premiership. Later that year, USA Rugby awarded Tameilau a scholarship to attend and play for Taranaki Rugby Academy, New Zealand for 6 weeks. The following season, Tameilau played for the Life West College Gladiators under head coach Adriann Ferris.

Tameilau made his Eagles (#475) debut in the Americas Rugby Championship against Canada at Round Rock, Texas on February 13, 2016. Since then he has earned 9 test caps, starting 5 times. His most recent Eagles appearance was also against Canada on July 1, 2017, helping to lead the team to qualify as the Americas 1 team for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Tameilau also played rugby professionally in 2016 with the San Francisco Rush, the Newcastle Falcons, and most recently with RC Narbonne in France. Rumors swirled earlier in the week that he was joining the Glasgow Warriors, but suiting up with the Utah Warriors for the inaugural 2018 Major League Rugby season, was appealing and provided a chance to return home.

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Tameilau said, “I’m extremely excited about signing with the Warriors this season. Truly am grateful for the opportunity and it means so much that I get to come back to the states and continue to help grow the game. I’m really looking forward to being surrounded by a group of solid brothers in an amazing environment and know we can really bring some excitement to Major League Rugby.”

Utah Warriors Head Coach Alf Daniels indicated that “Tevita’s a big powerful man with the ball in hand and on the defensive side of the game. I think he’s going to lead the way for our boys by bringing some physicality, and his experience playing in a professional environment in France will be invaluable.”