With the 2022/23 campaign upon us, LTTV brings supporters a new season of UNDER THE STRIPES to introduce them to the additions to the Leicester Tigers squad.
In Episode 6, we get to know more about Joe Taufete'e.
The USA international moved to Leicester Tigers from Major League Rugby club, LA Giltinis.
Taufete’e has been capped on 34 occasions by the USA Eagles since his Test debut against South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and is the all-time record-holder for most Test tries by a hooker with 22.
The hooker was born in American Samoa and attended Santa Ana College (California), where he played American football as a defensive tackle. During his school years, he was recognised with All-Conference honours.
He made the move to rugby union in 2011 and represented American clubs Belmont Shore (California) and Scioto Valley (Ohio) as well as a short-stint with New Zealand club Otorohanga in Waikato.
In 2016, Taufete’e joined the San Diego Breakers before moving to England to join the Worcester Warriors during the 2016/17 Premiership season.
He represented the Warriors on more than 50 occasions before joining French club Lyon in 2020, who he spent two seasons with before agreeing a short-term deal with MLR club, LA Giltinis earlier this year.
Match tickets are available now for the first ten rounds of the new Gallagher Premiership campaign, with the first home game of the league season on Saturday, September 17 against Newcastle Falcons at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
