Matai Leuta

Matai Leuta (born July 20, 1990) is an American rugby union player who currently plays for the Chicago Hounds in Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played for the United States national rugby sevens team.

Matai Leuta
Date of birth (1990-07-20) July 20, 1990
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight235 lb (107 kg)
Rugby union career
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023 Chicago Hounds ()
Correct as of 21 June 2023
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2015–2021 United States 7s
Correct as of 01 August 2021

Early life

Leuta became serious in 2013 about pursuing rugby professionally, and improved his diet and fitness.[1]

Before joining the U.S. national team, Leuta was studying at Monterey Peninsula College and playing amateur club rugby. Leuta was discovered in early 2015 at a recruitment camp at the Olympic Training Center in San Diego, California.[2][3]

International rugby career

Leuta joined the U.S. national rugby sevens team in 2015.[4]

Leuta scored his first World Series try at the 2015 Japan Sevens against Portugal when he caught the ball from the U.S. own kickoff and broke through two tacklers to score.[5] Leuta was a member of the U.S. team at the 2015 London Sevens, where the U.S. secured its first ever tournament victory in the World Rugby Sevens Series; Leuta was a starter for the final of that tournament, helping the U.S. defeat Australia 45-22 to win the tournament.

Professional rugby union career

Leuta's last year with the national sevens team was in 2021. Since then, he has played professionally in Major League Rugby with the Chicago Hounds.

References
  1. "Leuta's OTC Dream Started with Big Changes", Goff Rugby Report, March 4, 2015.
  2. Eagles: Matai Leuta, USA Rugby.
  3. "NSCRO Player, Matai Leuta of Cal State Monterey Bay Recruited to Eagles 7s High Performance Camp", NSCRO, January 19, 2015.
  4. "Mataiyasi Leuta, another player making his debut USA 7s team", Fiji One, March 25, 2015.
  5. "NSCRO Player Matai Leuta of Cal State Monterey Bay Scores for Eagles", NSCRO, April 5, 2015.


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