Atieli Pakalani

Atieli Pakalani (born 2 August 1989)[1] is a Tongan rugby union player.[2] He is nicknamed the 'Tongan Hitman',[3] and his usual position is on the wing. Pakalani played Super Rugby for the NSW Waratahs in 2011.[2] In 2017 Pakalani joined Leicester Tigers.[4]

Atieli Pakalani
Date of birth (1989-08-02) 2 August 1989
Place of birthHa'ateiho, Tonga
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight88 kg (13 st 12 lb)
SchoolTamaki College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fullback
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009–2010
2011
2013–2016
2014–2015
2015–2016
2017
2018
2019
2020		 Auckland
Waratahs
Southern Districts
Greater Sydney Rams
Carcassonne
Leicester Tigers
NSW Country Eagles
Eastwood Rugby Club
[West Harbour Rugby Club]		 18
14
16
4
13
1
3
13
0		 (20)
(25)
(30)
(10)
(5)
(0)
(0)
(15)
(0)
Correct as of 4 Mar 2020
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009
2017–		 Tonga U20
Tonga		 5
12		 (5)
(10)
Correct as of 4 March 2020
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2014 Australia 4
2018-present Tonga 37
Correct as of 12 May 2018

Biography

Pakalani attended secondary school at Tamaki College in New Zealand.[5] He joined ITM Cup team Auckland in 2009 on a two-year deal. He also captained the Tongan Under 20 team at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship.[6]

In 2014 Pakalani represented Australia 7s at the time committing him to represent Australia only. In 2016 he was successful in an application to use a loophole in World Rugby's eligibility laws to allow him to represent Tonga[7] and on 1 July 2017 he made his international debut for Tonga in a 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifier against Samoa.[8]

Pakalani competed for Tonga at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.[9]

Reference list
  1. "Afa Pakalani". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  2. "Atieli Pakalani Player Profile". New South Wales Waratahs. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  3. "Atieli Pakalani". Green and Fold Rugby. Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  4. "Leicester Tigers sign Tonga full-back Atieli Pakalani". Leicester Mercury. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  5. "Pakalani turns Super rugby dream into reality". Otago Daily Times. Fairfax. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  6. "Atieli Pakalani". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  7. "Pacific nations hopeful of changes to rugby's eligibility laws". radioNZ. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  8. "Tonga (20) 30 - 26 (16) Samoa (FT)". 1 July 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  9. "Country Summary: Tonga - Rugby World Cup Sevens South Africa 2022". www.rwcsevens.com. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
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