Epi Taione

Epi Taione

Taione in action for Harlequins
Full name	Epeili Taione
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	272 lb (123 kg)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number Eight, Template:Wing, Template:Rugbycentre Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1998–2005 2005–2006 2006–2007 2007–2008 2008–2009 2009–present Newcastle Falcons Sale Sharks Sanyo Wild Knights Natal Sharks Harlequins Racing Métro () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1999–present 2006–present Tonga Pacific Islanders

Epi Taione (born March 2, 1979) is a Tongan rugby union footballer who currently plays for Racing Métro 92 Paris. He normally plays at Template:Rugbycentre but can cover Template:Wing or back row forward.

He is often referred to as a 'giant' as at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall and 19 stone 6 pounds (123 kg) he is extremely large for a centre or wing.

He started his career at Newcastle Falcons. In the summer of 2005 he joined Sale Sharks on a two year contract. However, his contract was cancelled when he was banned for biting. After his ban he went to Japan to play for Sanyo Wild Knights.

Taione controversially changed his name to Paddy Power for the duration of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in a sponsorship deal agreed with the Irish bookmaker.

He then went to play for the Natal Sharks but in the 2008 Super 14 he was suspended for five weeks after headbutting a Wellington Hurricanes player, and was also suspended for 2 weeks in the Pacific Nations Cup after dangerously tackling New Zealand Maori Number Eight Tom Waldrom. He next moved on to Harlequins but had little game time so moved on to french side Racing Métro 92 Paris in 2009.