Date of birth | 1 May 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | American Samoa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 102 kg (16 st 1 lb; 225 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Roland Suniula (brother), Shalom Suniula (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Second-row, Wing, Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Andrew Suniula (born 1 May 1982) [1] is a former rugby football player who played rugby union as a centre for the United States national team (USA Eagles XV's). He last played for the Austin Gilgronis and is now their Rugby Operations Director and a member of the coaching staff. [2]
Suniula began playing professional rugby union with Taranaki during the 2005–06 season, playing in eight times for the club.
Suniula switched to play rugby league for the Auckland Lions in the 2007 Bartercard Cup, scoring a try in the Grand Final. There he was spotted by Noel Cleal and signed by Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. [3] Suniula played for Manly in the NRL. Suniula played wing , centre and second-row in rugby league. [3]
After four years in rugby league, Suniula returned to union with the Chicago Griffins in 2010. The following season he joined RFU Championship side Cornish Pirates, appearing 16 times for the club during the 2011–12 season. Suniula returned to Chicago Griffins the following season before joining his first top flight professional rugby union side when he signed for the London Wasps for the 2013–14 season. [4] He made five appearances for the club during his brief one-year stint. Suniula joined CSM București for the 2015 Romanian Rugby Championship season. [5]
In 2018 Suniola signed for Austin Elite and quickly became team captain, but by 2019 he was semi-retired and was succeeded as captain by Ben Mitchell. [6]
Suniula represented the United States in rugby union from 2008 to 2016 and played 39 tests including four matches in the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. [7] [8]
His brothers, Roland and Shalom, have also represented the United States in rugby union. [9] Suniula has been tattooed by internationally renowned artist Steve Ma Ching, who also tattooed rugby players DJ Forbes and Sonny Bill Williams. [10]
Stephen Matai is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League from 2005 to 2016. A New Zealand national representative centre, he played for Australian club the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Matai helped the Sea Eagles win the 2008 and 2011 Premierships. He was also part of the New Zealand national squad that won the nation's maiden title at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Known particularly for his uncompromising defence, in 2020, Matai was voted the National Rugby League's hardest hitter over the past 30 years.
Gene Robert Ngamu is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer. He played mainly as a halfback or five-eighth, and is probably best known for his combination with Stacey Jones at the Auckland Warriors and the Kiwis.
The 2007 New Zealand rugby league season was the 100th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the eighth season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Auckland Lions won the Cup by defeating Harbour League 28-4 in the Grand Final.
Ben Farrar is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He is the player/head coach of New York Rugby League. He previously played for the North Queensland Cowboys and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League and the Catalans Dragons in the Super League. He primarily played fullback, centre, wing but had filled in at five-eighth in the past.
Florin Vlaicu is a Romanian former rugby union player. He last played as a fly half or centre for Liga Națională de Rugby club SCM Timișoara. He could also play as a fullback, thus being considered a utility back due to his versatility. He is Romania's all time leading point scorer and the most capped player for his nation.
Luke Williamson is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He is now coach of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles' NSW Cup team after previously coaching the team in 2011 and being the coach of Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Toyota Cup (Under-20s) team in the 2012 competition. His playing career was spent with the Adelaide Rams, the Canberra Raiders, the Northern Eagles and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League and for the Harlequins RL in the Super League.
Liam Foran is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who has played for the Cessnock Goannas in the Newcastle Rugby League Competition in Newcastle, Australia, as a five-eighth or halfback.
Tony Williams, also known by the nickname of "T-Rex", is a former professional rugby league footballer. He played for both Tonga and Australia at international level.
Joel Thompson is a retired Australian professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row forward for St Helens in the Super League, and for the Canberra Raiders, St George Illawarra Dragons and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL). Thompson has played for the Indigenous All stars and NSW Country Origin side at representative level, and played as a centre in the NRL earlier in his career.
Craig Ross Innes, also known by the nickname of "Postie", is a New Zealand former rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. After a successful rugby union career which saw him represent his country he switched to rugby league, playing in both England and Australia, winning the 1996 ARL Premiership, before playing out the last years of his career in rugby union in New Zealand.
Owen Cunningham, nicknamed OJ, is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. A Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, North Queensland Cowboys and the Northern Eagles.
Kevin Samuel Locke, also known by the nickname of "Knobby", is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Northcote Tigers in the Auckland Rugby League. He previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League and for the Salford Red Devils and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the Super League. He primarily plays as a fullback and wing.
Roland Suniula is an American international rugby union player who plays for the Austin Elite as a centre in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Marty Veale is a former rugby union player and is assistant coach with Northland in the Bunnings NPC. He played at lock for Northland in the ITM Cup competition. He formerly coached rugby as Head Coach of Rugby New York (RNY), a member of Major League Rugby (MLR)Old Blue R.F.C. in New York and the United States Military Academy at West Point men's team starting in 2015.
Pita Godinet is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the Dapto Canaries in the Illawarra Rugby League.
Shalom Suniula is a former rugby league and rugby union player, who played for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR), and for the United States national rugby sevens team. He played rugby union for the United States Eagles XV's, USA Sevens, and at club level for Belmont Shore RFC, as a scrum-half or fly-half. His brothers Andrew and Roland Suniula also played rugby for the U.S.
Liligiifo Sao is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop and loose forward for Hull F.C. in the Super League.
Nick Civetta is an American former professional rugby player who last played for Rugby New York of Major League Rugby. He also played internationally for the United States rugby team. He played as a second row.
Lachlan Croker is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Ben Mitchell is an English-born Irish professional rugby union player who is currently a lock. As of 2024, he is with the United States team Rugby Football Club Los Angeles in Major League Rugby (MLR).