Date of birth | 23 January 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | Randwick, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 115 kg (254 lb; 18 st 2 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Southland Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Arese Poliko (born 23 January 2001) is an Australian-born New Zealand rugby union player, who plays for the Hurricanes and Taranaki. His preferred position is flanker or number 8. [1]
Poliko was born in Australia to Samoan parents and only took up rugby after re-locating to Samoa aged 12. He moved to New Zealand to attend Menzies College before attending Southland Boys' High School. [2] He previously represented Highlanders U18 and later the Highlanders U20 side. [3]
Poliko has represented Taranaki in the National Provincial Championship since 2023, being named in their full squad for the 2024 Bunnings NPC. [4] He previously represented Southland in the competition between 2020 and 2022. He was named in the Hurricanes squad for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season in November 2024. [5]