Ataata Moeakiola

Ataata Moeakiola

Date of birth	(1996-02-06) 6 February 1996 (age 29)
Place of birth	Tonga
Height	186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	99 kg (218 lb; 15 st 8 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fullback, Fly-half, Number 8, Flanker Current team Kobelco Steelers Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2020– Kobelco Steelers 33 (115) 2024 Manawatu 4 (10) Correct as of 26 February 2023 Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2017 Sunwolves 0 (0) 2019 Chiefs 9 (15) Correct as of 21 February 2021 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2015–2016 Japan U20 10 (39) 2015– Japan 4 (15) Correct as of 21 February 2021

Ataata Moeakiola (born 6 February 1996 in Tonga) is a Tongan-born, Japanese rugby union player who plays on the wing. He most recently played for the Chiefs in 2019. ^[1]

Youth career

Moeakiola, originally from Tonga, having left Tonga aged just 15 thanks to a university rugby scholarship in Japan. He played for the Japan's U20 side at the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in 2016. ^[2]

He gained much attention for grabbing a spectacular hat-trick inside 30 minutes against South Africa at the under-20 Rugby Championship in England. ^{[3] [4]}

Professional career

Moeakiola signed for the Chiefs for the 2019 Super Rugby season and will look to make his debut in the competition. ^[5]

International career

He was named in the Japan squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. ^[6]

Reference list

1. "Strength across the field for Gallagher Chiefs" (Press release). Chiefs. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
2. "Super Rugby a dream come true for Chiefs' Tongan-Japanese winger Ataata Moeakiola". Stuff. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
3. "Tongan force a lethal weapon for Japan". New Zealand Herald. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
4. "Giant Japanese wing Ataata Moeakiola scores hat-trick to start comparisons to Jonah Lomu". Stuff. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
5. "Rugby: Japan winger surprise inclusion in Chiefs squad". RNZ. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
6. "Japan Training Squad for Rugby World Cup 2019". Japan Rugby. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2023.

External links

• Ataata Moeakiola at ESPNscrum
• Ataata Moeakiola at ItsRugby.co.uk