Faifili Levave - Hurricanes bio December 2009:

D.O.B: 15.1.1986

Position: Loose Forward

Debut: v Waratahs 2009

Career: 2009

Appearances: 10

Points: 10 (2 tries)

Provinces: Wellington, Waikato

Physical: 1.92m, 111kg

Highlights:

(December 2009): Powerful flanker Faifili Levave returned home to Wellington in 2009 to the Hurricanes the Vodafone Wellington Lions after a year living and playing rugby in Hamilton for the Chiefs and Waikato. Levave is a big strong ball running loose forward and uncompromising defender, attributes which make him a danger for any opposition.

Often compared to a young Jerry Collins, Levave made his Wellington debut aged 19 in 2005 and joined the Hurricanes Wider Training Squad in 2006. But a pectoral injury sidelined him for much of that year and he had to bide his time on the sidelines. He returned to play in all 14 of the Lions' first class matches in 2007, including five starts at blindside flanker. Earlier in the season he played at blindside flanker for the New Zealand U21s in their one-off international against Canada at Rotorua It was this form that caught the eye of the Chiefs and Mooloo selectors in 2008.

Levave scored a try on Super 14 debut in 2009 against the Waratahs.

One of five brothers, Faifili's older brother George earned an American Football Scholarship with Idaho State University. He was also studying for a BA in Geography in Education at Victoria University. A star of the champion Northern United club team in Porirua, just north of Wellington.

Levave is a Hurricanes Wider Training Group member in 2010 after missing most of the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup through injury.