Willis Halaholo

Sean Alfred Uilisi "Willis" Halaholo (born 6 July 1990) is a Welsh[2] rugby union player who plays as a centre for the Cardiff Rugby and the Wales national team. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, to parents of Tongan descent, he qualified to play for Wales on residency grounds after moving to the country in 2016. Earlier that year, he was part of the Hurricanes team that won its first ever Super Rugby title.

Willis Halaholo
Birth nameSean Alfred Uilisi Halaholo[1]
Date of birth (1990-07-06) 6 July 1990
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight105 kg (231 lb)
SchoolMount Albert Grammar School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016− Cardiff Rugby 91 90
Correct as of 08 June 2022
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2015
2016		 Southland
Waikato		 33
10		 (50)
(10)
Correct as of 16 October 2016
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2016 Hurricanes 18 (10)
Correct as of 6 August 2016
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009
2021-		 Tonga U20
Wales		 5
5		 (0)
(0)
Correct as of 13 March 2021

Career

After winning the Auckland Secondary Schools title with Mount Albert Grammar School, Halaholo was named in the 2007 New Zealand Secondary Schools team alongside All Blacks Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Elliot Dixon and Charlie Ngatai for their tour of Australia.

Halaholo also played for Tonga U20 at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.

Halaholo began his senior club rugby career with Grammar Carlton before moving to Silverdale to reunite with MAGS coach Charlie McAlister.

After a move back to his junior club, Suburbs, in Auckland, Halaholo caught the attention of Southland selectors and headed to New Zealand's far south to gain his ITM Cup break with the Stags in 2013.[3] He made a big impact in Invercargill and after two seasons with the Stags, he was named in the Hurricanes squad for the 2015 Super Rugby season.[4]

Behind the All Blacks midfield combination of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith, Halaholo managed only a handful of appearances off the bench.

In 2016 Halaholo was offered a downgraded wider training squad contract and, after starting the season on the bench, earned a place in the starting team which won the Hurricanes' first Super Rugby title, defeating the Lions 20-3 in the final at Westpac Stadium.

At the conclusion of the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup he joined Cardiff on a three-year contract.

International

Halaholo was named in the Wales squad for the first time for the uncapped international against the Barbarians on 30 November 2019 after qualifying for Wales through the residency rule.[5]

Following injuries to fellow centres Johnny Williams, Jonathan Davies and George North, Halaholo was recalled to the Wales squad for their 2021 Six Nations Championship match against Scotland on 13 February 2021.[6] With Nick Tompkins and Owen Watkin picked to start, Halaholo was named on the bench for the game. [7] He made his international debut in the 32nd minute, when fullback Leigh Halfpenny went off for a head injury assessment.

Halaholo earned his second cap for Wales as a replacement in their match against England on 27 February, 2021. This match was the first in history in which Wales had scored 40 points against England.

References
  1. Doel, Jon (13 February 2021). "Why Willis Halaholo is being called Uilisi in Wales v Scotland match". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  2. "Halaholo family proud to support Willis the Welshman - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  3. "Coach's faith launches Halaholo". All Blacks.com. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  4. "Reinforced midfield an asset for 2015". Hurricanes Rugby. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  5. Wales v Barbarians
  6. "Six Nations 2021: Wales call up trio including uncapped centre Willis Halaholo". BBC Sport. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  7. "Six Nations 2021: Injury-hit Wales recall Liam Williams to face Scotland". BBC Sport. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
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