| height = 187 cm
| weight = {{convert|108|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}
| school = St Edmund's College, Canberra
| university =
| spouse =
| children =
| relatives = Vili Fainga'a
Anthony Fainga'a
Colby Fainga'a[2]
| ru_position = Hooker[3]
| ru_currentteam = Brumbies
| ru_amateuryears =
| ru_amateurclubs =
| ru_clubyears = 2007
2014–2017
2017–
| ru_proclubs = Canberra Vikings
Queensland Country
London Irish
| ru_clubcaps = 4
5
17
| ru_clubpoints = (5)
(5)
(0)
| ru_clubupdate = 4 November 2015
| super14years = 2006–08
2009–16
2017
| super14 = {{rut Brumbies}}
{{rut Reds}}
{{rut Brumbies}}
| super14caps = 27
99
3
| super14points = (0)
(40)
| super14update = 21 July 2016
| ru_currentclub = GPS
| ru_provinceyears =
| ru_province =
| ru_provincecaps =
| ru_provincepoints =
| ru_nationalyears = 2010-15
2006
2006
2003–04
| ru_nationalteam = Australia
Australia U-19
Australia U-21
{{nowrap|Australia Schoolboys}}
| ru_nationalcaps = 36
4
3
6
| ru_nationalpoints = (0)
(0)
(0)
?
| ru_ntupdate = 30 November 2014
| ru_sevensnationalyears = 2008–09
| ru_sevensnationalteam = {{nowrap|Australia Sevens}}
| ru_sevensnationalcomp = ?
| website =
}}Saia Fainga'a (born 2 February 1987) is an Australian professional rugby union footballer who plays in the English Premiership for the London Irish.
Family and early life
Saia Fainga'a was born in Queanbeyan, New South Wales,[ and started playing rugby union at the age of 11 or 12 at the Queanbeyan club.[2] He was a member of the Brumbies Academy from the age of 14 and attended St Edmund's College, Canberra, where he was selected for the Australian Schools team in 2003 and 2004.][[7]]
Saia's twin brother Anthony, and younger brother's Vili and Colby are also professional rugby union players.[2] The Fainga'a's are of Tongan[9] and Aboriginal descent.[10]
Career
Fainga'a made his Super 14 debut in 2006. He was fast-tracked into the Brumbies’ side due to injuriues in the squad, and played his first senior match for the Brumbies against the Stormers in Cape Town.[7] Later that year he captained the Australian Under 19s team to win the IRB World Championship in Dubai.[7] Fainga'a went on to earn 27 super rugby caps at the Brumbies from 2006 to 2008.[13]
In 2008, Saia and his twin brother Anthony signed on to play with the Queensland Reds for the 2009 season. He made his Test debut for Australia in 2010 against Fiji in Canberra.[13]
He played in all 18 matches of the Reds 2011 Super Rugby title-winning season, and was selected alongside his brother Anthony in the Wallabies squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, where Australia took third place.[13]
On the 2nd June 2017 it was announced he would move to England after signing for newly promoted Premiership side London Irish.[1]
Reference list
1. ^{{cite web|title=NEW SIGNING: London Irish land 36-times capped Australian|url=http://www.london-irish.com/news/new-signing-london-irish-land-36times-capped-australian/bp1354/|website=London Irish|publisher=London Irish Scottish Richmond Ltd.}}
2. ^1 {{cite web |url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/audio/2010/02/17/2822363.htm |date = 17 February 2010 |publisher= ABC radio |title= Saia Fainga'a}}{{dead link|date=June 2013}}
3. ^1 {{cite news |first = Jon |last= Geddes |newspaper = The Daily Telegraph |date = 9 July 2009 |url = http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby/one-ella-va-feat/story-e6frey4i-1225889611360 |title= One Ella-va feat}}
4. ^1 {{cite web |url = http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-union/australia-rugby/two-down--more-signings-to-come-says-reds-boss-20100317-qefj.html |title = Two down – more signings to come, says Reds boss |author=Phil Lutton |date = 17 March 2010 |publisher = Brisbane Times}}
5. ^1 2 3 {{citation |year = 2010 |first = Djuro |last = Sen |title = By Hook or by Crook |work = Official Program, Qantas Wallabies Matchday, Australia v Ireland – Saturday, June 26, 2010 |publisher = Australian Rugby Union |pages = 14–17 |url = http://activemagazine.smedia.com.au/ActiveMagazine/getBook.asp?Path=ARU/2010/06/26&BookCollection=ARU |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140221021810/http://activemagazine.smedia.com.au/ActiveMagazine/getBook.asp?Path=ARU%2F2010%2F06%2F26&BookCollection=ARU |dead-url = yes |archive-date = 21 February 2014 |accessdate = 24 June 2010 |df = dmy-all}}
6. ^1 2 3 {{cite web |title = Reds Profile |website = redsrugby.com.au |accessdate = 2 February 2014 |url = http://redsrugby.com.au/Reds/RedsSquad/PlayerPage/tabid/583/playerid/10/Default.aspx |deadurl = yes |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140125163659/http://redsrugby.com.au/Reds/RedsSquad/PlayerPage/tabid/583/playerid/10/Default.aspx |archivedate = 25 January 2014 |df = dmy-all}}
7. ^1 2 3 {{cite web |title= Wallabies Profile |website= rugby.com.au |accessdate= 2 February 2014 |url= http://www.rugby.com.au/wallabies/TheTeam/WallabiesProfiles/ProfilePage/tabid/1513/playerid/122/Default.aspx }}