Tongan warrior Sione Kalamafoni extends pro career into a 17th season

Tongan warrior Sione Kalamafoni has signed a contract extension with Pro D2 high-flyers, Vannes, that runs until the end of the 2026/27 season.

The former Nottingham, Gloucester, Leicester and Scarlets enforcer has trucked the ball up and hit everything that moves in well over 350 first-class games, with the prospect of matching the likes of Ma’a Nonu and Jimmy Gopperth and playing into his 40s possibly within his reach.

One of the Premiership’s foremost ball carriers and tacklers in his pomp, Kalamafoni admits his recovery time from match to match is getting longer, but the 37-year-old refuses to say his latest contract will be his last.

He has even left the door open for a fourth Rugby World Cup appearance with Tonga in 2027, if the ‘Ikale Tahi command his services.

At that point, Kalamafoni will be 39 by then, but the ‘Ikale Tahi has history when it comes to ignoring miles on the clock, having handed Sitaleki Timani his debut at the same age against Scotland last November.

“After the 2019 World Cup I made the decision to retire from international rugby. The coach at the time (Toutai Kefu) wanted me to continue, and I said to him that I think I have done my fair share of international rugby and I want to stay focused on providing for my family, and spending more time with them.

“He called me up again ahead of the 2023 World Cup and, at first, I said, I know that I retired from international rugby, and I know there is a lot of really good back-rowers that would, maybe, do a better job than me. But if there is no-one else and you really want me to come and play, I’ll come and cover.

“He said, ‘yes, I want you to come’. But then I snapped my Achilles in April.”

So would his response be similar if the same question was asked again? “At the end of next season, I’ll be 39, so we’ll see. I’ll take it one season at a time at the moment,” he said.

“I am pretty sure it won’t happen, but if they have a lot of injuries and they are looking for someone old to cover, we’ll have that conversation.

“For me, I would have a similar answer if the coach wanted me, because Tongan rugby has given me an opportunity to play overseas. Playing for my country and the ‘Ikale Tahi has provided an opportunity for me to provide for my family, and has been a blessing.”

One thing that helps to keep Kalamafomi’s tyres pumped and air in his lungs is the joy of winning, and the unswerving loyalty of the Vannes supporters, who are enjoying life at the top of Pro D2 after their relegation from the Top 14 the season before.

Nineteen games into the league campaign, Vannes are seven points clear of nearest challengers, Provence, with just three defeats to their name, the last coming against Beziers at the end of 2025.

“In terms of recovery, I need to be better, especially at my age, you tend to recover slower. I don’t like the freezing cold ice baths, I’d rather sit in the sauna like an old man,” he joked.

“Sometimes it is hard to play 80 minutes back to back, but if you are doing something that you enjoy doing, it helps to make it easier, and in some games the contact will be less than others.

“You tend to feel more sore when you are losing. Mentally it does help when you are winning, and the team spirit at the minute is very good.”

Pro D2

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Vannes

19

15

3

1

72

2

Provence Rugby

19

13

6

0

65

3

Colomiers

19

14

5

0

64

4

Valence Romans

19

13

6

0

57

5

Oyonnax

19

10

9

0

50

6

Brive

19

9

9

1

45

7

Agen

19

9

10

0

43

8

Aurillac

19

9

10

0

41

9

USON Nevers

19

8

10

1

39

10

Grenoble

19

8

11

0

37

11

Soyaux Angouleme

19

8

11

0

36

12

Biarritz

19

8

10

1

35

13

Beziers

19

7

12

0

30

14

Mont de Marsan

19

6

12

1

28

15

Dax

19

8

11

0

27

16

Carcassonne

19

4

14

1

22

Whilst not one for noting how many tries he has scored, Kalamafoni was pleased to learn he’d managed five this season, which is just one off his season’s best of six for Nottingham in the 2010/11 season, his first as a full-time pro.

He remains the ultimate team man and says winning promotion back to the top-flight in France would be “massive” for everyone concerned.

“Obviously, our goal is to go back up to Top 14. It would be massive for all of us, not only us players but the coaches and the fans, everyone in this region (Breton), as well. But it’s a long way away,” he said.

“I’m really enjoying my rugby here in Vannes, even though it is tough with the language barrier; I could do better at learning French. It is very forward-orientated in Pro D2, it is the kind of game that suits the way I play, I guess.”

Reflecting on his new contract at Vannes, Kalamafoni says the news came as a relief to his four primary school-aged children: Sione (Junior) 10, Gabriella 9, Esther 6 and Leone 4.

“At their age now, it is pretty difficult to tell them we have to move somewhere else, because they have friends in school and they like it here. We have kind of been prepping them, since last season, saying we could be moving, back to the UK, or we could be staying here, to try and prepare them.

“When we first moved here, it was pretty tough with the language and stuff, and they kept asking when are we going back to the UK? But they stopped asking after a while. Last season and this season, every time the subject of maybe moving came up, they weren’t happy!”

As with a lot of back-row players his age, Kalamafoni now covers the second row, the position that he played when he first started out all those years ago, as well as No.8 and blindside.

Aside from the Achilles injury that prevented his Test comeback in 2023, Kalamafoni has had two big injuries, with back-to-back surgery required on a torn hamstring and a dislocated shoulder whilst playing for Tonga in the 2016 Pacific Nations Cup. He was out for around six to seven months.

However, he has largely been injury-free for the past three years, other than the aches and pains associated with his body-on-the-line approach to the game .

“I know that it has been a long time, I am kind of feeling it in my body; I am starting to slow down, but I can’t believe it has been 17 years of almost week in, week out of playing professional rugby,” he said.

“I am grateful that God has blessed me with this talent and good health to continue playing. I am not sure when the end will be, but when it does come, I am pretty happy with what I have achieved.”