Sam Kaleta

Sam Kaleta

Born	Samuel Puni Kaleta (1966-03-09) 9 March 1966 Auckland, New Zealand
Rugby union career
Position Flanker Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1990 Kia Toa RFC Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1992–1994 Ricoh 1994–1997 Ponsonby RFC 1997–1999 Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars 19–2004 Perthshire RFC Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1990 Manawatu 8 (4) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1992–1993 Japan 4 (0) 1994–1997 Samoa 7 (5)

Samuel Puni Kaleta, known as Sam Kaleta (born 9 March 1966 in Auckland) is a former New-Zealand born Samoan rugby union player who played also for Japan. He played as a flanker.

Career

Kaleta graduated from Lynfield College in Auckland. During his playing career, he played for the New Zealand clubs Kia Toa RFC and Ponsonby RFC, as well as for the Japanese clubs Ricoh Black Rams and Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars. In 1991 he played for the NZ Combined Services team of the New Zealand Defence Force and Police as lock. He finished his career in 2004 for Perthshire RFC.

His first cap for Japan was against Hong Kong, in Seoul, on 26 September 1992, playing four matches. In 1994, Kaleta decided to play for Samoa, his country of heritage; his first cap for the Manu Samoa was in the match against Wales, at Moamoa, on 4 June 1994. He also was part of the 1995 Rugby World Cup roster, although he did not play a match during the tournament. His last cap in his career was against Fiji, in Apia, on 5 July 1997.

In 2006, Kaleta joined the staff of Perthshire RFC and took responsibility for the club's academy. For some time he was the team's player-coach, even entering the field in 2008.

External links

• Sam Kaleta at ESPNscrum (archived)
• Sam P. Kaleta at New Zealand Rugby History