Filiga Lio Falaniko (born

Apia Apia () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Samoa, as well as the nation's only city. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō ...

, 17 September 1970) is a Samoan former rugby union player and boxer. He plays as a lock. Currently, he works as personal trainer.

Career

His international debut in 1991, against Tonga, at Apia, on 17 June 1990. Despite missing that year's World Cup through injury he was a regular for the Samoans throughout the 1990s, playing in both the

1995 File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is O. J. Simpson murder case, acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the 1994, year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The ...

and

1999 File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shootin ...

World Cups - scoring a memorable try against Wales in Samoa's 38-31 win at the then all-new Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Ranging lock Falaniko joined the Hurricanes for one season in 1999 from the Highlanders, where he had played 24 super 12 games between 1996-1998. Falaniko was used alongside Dion Waller, Mark Cooksley and Inoke Afeaki in the locking role for the Hurricanes, winning five caps, and making four starts against the Cats, Sharks, Blues, and finally his old team the Highlanders. Vastly experienced at provincial level, Falaniko played a number of times for Otago, spent a season with Southland prior to his Super 12 stint in Wellington and also for North Harbour in 1999. Additionally Falaniko was an international volleyball representative and spent several years as a Les Mills Gyms fitness trainer. He took his personal trainer expertise to Perth, where he now resides and also coaches at club level.

Boxing career

Between 2005 and 2011, Falaniko undertook a boxing career, going undefeated in 10 heavyweight professional boxing bouts in New Zealand.

References

External links

Lio Falaniko InternationalLio Falaniko at The Hurricanes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Falaniko, Lio 1970 births Living people Rugby union players from Apia Samoan rugby union coaches Samoan rugby union players Samoan expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand Rugby union locks Samoan male boxers Samoa international rugby union players University of Auckland alumni Expatriate rugby union players in New Zealand Samoan expatriate rugby union players Otago rugby union players Southland rugby union players North Harbour rugby union players Highlanders (rugby union) players Hurricanes (rugby union) players Hanazono Kintetsu Liners players Union Bordeaux Bègles players Samoan expatriate sportspeople in Japan Samoan expatriate sportspeople in France 1995 Rugby World Cup players 1999 Rugby World Cup players