Blocked All Blacks star makes a mockery of the defence in two-try comeback game
Leicester Fainga'anuku scored two tries for Tasman.
Leicester Fainga’anuku celebrated his return to New Zealand in style as he ran in two tries for Tasman in their 49-17 win over Manawatu in Nelson on Sunday.
After an impressive stint in France playing for Toulon, the versatile player enjoyed the perfect comeback for Tasman as he grabbed a brace of scores in the first half-hour.
Fainga’anuku, who will play for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific next season, is currently ineligible for the All Blacks due to not meeting New Zealand Rugby’s requirements. They are that a returning player must meet the threshold of 70 Tests for the All Blacks or period of long service in Super Rugby before his departure offshore.
End-of-year hopes
Therefore the powerful centre/wing will have to bide his time to wear the black jersey again and can only impress in the NPC and hope that warrants a November call-up.
He has started by doing just that as he opened his account for Tasman in the 27th minute after spotting some weak defence on the fringe of the ruck close to the try-line.
Welcome back, Leicester Fainga’anuku 🤝
📲 Watch LIVE on @skysportnz pic.twitter.com/DvkcxcgGB0
— Bunnings NPC (@BunningsNPC) August 9, 2025
Fainga’anuku didn’t have to wait long for his brace too as barely three minutes later a wayward touch-finder wasn’t dealt with by the Turbos and the All Black wing was quickest to react, gathering and charging into the 22 before showing evasiveness, pace and a strong fend en route to making it a 26-0 before the conversion attempt.
Leicester Fainga’anuku has TWO 💪
📲 Watch LIVE on @skysportnz pic.twitter.com/YZvhUSBVnE
— Bunnings NPC (@BunningsNPC) August 9, 2025
As mentioned, Tasman would go on to win the game 49-17 as they bounced back from last week’s loss at Bay of Plenty to make it one win out of two so far this campaign.
Mission accomplished
For Fainga’anuku it was mission accomplished in terms of keeping himself in All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson’s thoughts as he returns from France a better player.
The 25-year-old will be an interested observer of New Zealand’s performances in the upcoming Rugby Championship with the wing positions far from certain this season.
