2014 SUPER RUGBY MEDIA GUIDE CHIEFS 160 MATTHEW SYMONS @MattJSymons Position: Lock Physical: 200cm/117kg Date of Birth: 4 August 1989 Place of Birth: Harlow, ENG Super Rugby Caps: 0 Super Rugby Points: 0 Super Rugby Debut: – Test Caps: 0 Test Points: 0 Test Debut – Matt Symons joins the frachise for his first Super Rugby campaign in 2014. During his impressive ITM Cup season with Canterbury – for which he won the ITM Cup First Year Player Award – Symons proved to be a physical and agile lock with great aerial skills. After following his brother (Andrew, Tasman midfielder) to New Zealand, Symons captained the Crusaders development side before being selected by the Chiefs. He left junior rugby to pursue a rowing career where he represented Great Britain, but a forearm injury led him to return to rugby. Symons played for Esher throughout 2011-12 before making the journey south to continue his unconventional yet rapid rugby development. BEN TAMEIFUNA @ImTongan Position: Prop Physical: 184cm/137kg Date of Birth: 30 August 1991 Place of Birth: Auckland, NZL Super Rugby Caps: 33 Super Rugby Points: 35 Super Rugby Debut: Round 2, 2012 vs Blues, Hamilton Test Caps: 0 Test Points: 0 Test Debut – A crowd favourite, Ben Tameifuna is a powerfully built tighthead who is explosive and destructive with an excellent skill set. Tameifuna made his Super Rugby debut in 2012 and the young player quickly established himself as a strong scrummager. The former scrumhalf was part of the New Zealand U20 Junior World Championship winning team in 2011 and has proven he is a not only a big defender who is strong with the ball in hand, but has the ability and nous to find the try line, with six last season – the most for any prop in the competition. Tameifuna, who plays his ITM Cup rugby for Waikato, has played for Hawke’s Bay and also represented New Zealand Schools in 2009.
2014 Super Rugby Media Guide
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