Rugby player from generation to generation. Former pillar of Tonga, Malakai Fainga’anuku bequeathed to his son his passion for this “rogue sport played by gentlemen”, according to the saying. And it started from birth, where nothing was left to chance.
The first name Leicester, unusual if ever there was one, pays homage to Tonga’s historic victory against Italy (28-25), during the 1999 World Cup, the day after which the twirling winger was born. During this unbreathable encounter, Malakai Fainga’anuku’s teammates won on the gong, thanks to a try (79′) and a drop (80′) scored in quick succession. And it turns out that this unexpected turnaround happened on the lawn of Welford Road Stadium … in Leicester. “My name started with my dad. He was playing for Tonga at the time, in England, in the 1999 World Cup. It was at Leicester Stadium. Tonga won by three points, and I think ‘they celebrated’says the main interested party to 1 News.
The second and third names of the Neo-Toulonnais – Wales and Twickenham – also pay tribute to the course of the Tongans during this competition. On the one hand, adding “Wales”, Wales in French, allowed to emphasize one of the host countries of the tournament (with England, Scotland and Ireland). In this case, it was at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff that the opening match between Wales and Argentina was played (23-18 victory for the locals). On the other hand, the “temple of rugby” was the stadium in which the players from these South Pacific islands crossed swords with England a few days later (a crushing defeat, 101-10).
2023-09-07 10:07:34
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