Ma'afu, Salesi

Salesi (pron: sal-ess-ee) Ma’afu (pron: mar-foo) continued to develop his status as a promising propping prospect for the CA Brumbies during 2007. The 126-kilogram front rower made his Investec Super 14 debut for the CA Brumbies in 2007 and finished the season with 10 caps, including his first run-on start against the mammoth Bulls pack at Canberra Stadium. Ma’afu’s consistent form during the season led to his call-up to the Australia A squad during the Pacific Nations Cup after Wallaby prop Rodney Blake was ruled out through injury. Ma’afu scored a try in his only appearance off the bench in the side’s 71-10 win over Japan in Townsville. After a brief return into the Sydney club rugby competition, Ma’afu was ruled out of the Mazda Australian Rugby Championship after breaking his hand representing Warringah. He completed the season with his selection in the Barbarians squad that played South Africa at Twickenham in December and a three-week playing stint in Leicester in the United Kingdom. With a solid pre-season under his belt, Ma’afu will look to reunite his front row trinity with Wallabies Nic Henderson and Guy Shepherdson.

Born in Sydney and of Tongan and Fijian heritage, Ma’afu played rugby league for Five Dock in the Balmain district before taking up rugby as an 11 year old. He progressed through the junior ranks for the West Harbour Pirates, playing the last five seasons in the Tooheys New Cup first grade competition, before joining the Warringah Rats for 2007. Ma’afu represented NSW Under 19’s in 2001 and 2002 and spent 2004 and 2005 as part of the NSW Academy. He played for the NSW ‘A’ team against the Brumby Runners in 2005 as well as representing the Australian Barbarians and was recruited to the CA Brumbies for the 2006 season. Having served his apprenticeship under the Wallaby trio of Bill Young, Shepherdson and Henderson, Ma’afu graduated to become a regular in the 22-man squad last season.