Beaudein Waaka

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Beaudein Waaka
Full nameBeaudein Roger Tuhaunui Waaka
Date of birth (1994-01-27) 27 January 1994 (age 31)
Place of birth Whakatāne, New Zealand
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight91 kg (201 lb; 14 st 5 lb)
School Gisborne Boys' High School
Notable relative(s) Stacey Waaka (sister)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, centre, first five-eighth
Current team Skyactivs Hiroshima
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2012, 2019 Poverty Bay 5 (61)
2013–2018 Taranaki 30 (111)
2019–2020 Manly 17 (106)
2020–2023 New England Free Jacks 38 (271)
2020–2021 Waikato 13 (35)
2023 Kobelco Kobe Steelers 6 (13)
2023 Manawatu 9 (7)
2023– Skyactivs Hiroshima 0 (0)
Correct as of 10 December 2023
National sevens team
YearsTeamComps
2015–2017 New Zealand 14
Correct as of 25 January 2020

Beaudein Waaka (born 27 January 1994) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays for Manawatu in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship [1] and for Skyactivs Hiroshima in the Japan Rugby League One competition. [2] He previously played for Taranaki, New England Free Jacks, Waikato and Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

Contents

Professional career

In 2012, Waaka played for Poverty Bay in the Heartland Championship. Then he represented the Taranaki Bulls for five seasons in the Mitre 10 Cup competition.

In 2019, he signed with Manly RUFC. Like his sister, Stacey Waaka, he has represented New Zealand in rugby sevens. [3]

In 2020, Waaka signed with the New England Free Jacks. He made two appearances during the shorted 2020 season. The following year during the 2021 season Waaka appeared in 15 matches for the free jacks scoring 103 points. He would then finish the year with Waikato, and helped them win the Bunnings NPC Premiership Division championship.

He then returned to the free jacks for the 2022 season. Where he had a career year, finishing third in goal kicks and second in point scorers, with 151. This led to him being named the MLR player of the year for the 2022 season. [4] Being the first player in Free Jacks history to receive the honor. He also won the MLR championship shield with the Free Jacks in 2023. Throughout his tenure in New England Waaka became a fan favorite among free jacks fans. [5]

After the 2023 season, Waaka left the Free Jacks and signed with Skyactivs Hiroshima to play in Japan. In his first year with the team, he appeared in 12 matches for the club, scoring 72 points. However, the following year, he was injured, only appearing in the final game of the 2024-25 season. [6]

Honours

New England Free Jacks

Waikato

Skyactivs Hiroshima

References

  1. ↑ "Turbos squad confirmed for 2023" (Press release). Manawatu Turbos. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "ボーディン・ワッカ選手加入のお知らせ" [Announcement of the addition of Beaudein Waaka](PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Skyactivs Hiroshima. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Two black jerseys for Waaka siblings". Maori Television. 8 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Waaka named player of the year https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/new-england-free-jacks-beaudein-waaka-receives-mlr-player-of-the-year-award/
  5. ↑ "Beaudein Waaka on Building Something Good in New England". Major League Rugby. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  6. ↑ "Beaudein WAAKA profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
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