A try-scorer on his Canterbury representative debut, against Counties Manukau at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland in 2007, Tavake Lecanus (better known as Nasi) Manu has achieved the rare distinction of playing at first class level and being selected for Super rugby prior to playing senior club rugby. Manu appeared six times for Canterbury that season, earning the team’s internal player of the day award when he stepped in for the injured Mose Tuiali’i just hours before the Air New Zealand Cup quarterfinal success against Otago. A strapping loose forward, Manu is the nephew of the former Auckland and Wallaby loose forward Daniel Manu. Another relation, Alaska Taufa, played on the wing for Wellington before continuing his career with the Ricoh club in Japan.