Christian Lio-Willie

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Christian Lio-Willie
Birth nameChristian Javan Lio-Willie
Date of birth (1998-08-26) 26 August 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height189 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight111 kg (17 st 7 lb; 245 lb)
School Massey High School
University University of Otago
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8, Flanker
Current team Otago, Crusaders
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2021– Otago 31 (15)
2022 Highlanders 2 (0)
2023– Crusaders 42 (50)
Correct as of June 13 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2022–2023 All Blacks XV 4 (0)
Correct as of 15 July 2023

Christian Javan Lio-Willie (born 26 August 1998) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and Otago in the Bunnings NPC. His playing position is loose forward.

Contents

Early life

Lio-Willie attended Massey High School in Auckland. [1] At age 18, he moved to Dunedin to attend the University of Otago. [2] He has played club rugby for Kaikorai RFC in Dunedin. [3]

Rugby career

Lio-Willie joined the Otago wider training squad in 2020; [4] [5] however, he would not make an appearance that season.

In 2021, Lio-Willie made his debut for Otago in a 26-19 win against to Southland on 7 August where he made a rampaging break in the 78th minute that set up the winning try of the match. [6] On 15 October, he played 42 minutes in a 24–13 win against Northland. [7]

During the 2025 Super Rugby season, Lio-Willie was a stand out player for the Crusaders with his impressive form helping the team to its 13th Super Rugby title. Playing the season at No.8 he was selected in the All Blacks 35 man squad as injury cover for Luke Jacobson.

Personal life

As of 2021, Lio-Willie is in his fifth year studying dentistry at the University of Otago. He is of Samoan descent. [2]

Reference list

  1. ↑ "Past Student Achievement - Christian Lio-Willie". Massey High School . Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  2. 1 2 Cully, Paul (12 November 2021). "NPC: Ardie Savea-inspired dentist Christian Lio-Willie ready to put smile on Otago faces". Stuff . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  3. ↑ Seconi, Adrian (21 May 2021). "No taking things for granted". Otago Daily Times . Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  4. ↑ "Plenty of newcomers in Otago squad". Otago Daily Times . 27 August 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  5. ↑ Goile, Aaron (9 September 2020). "Mitre 10 Cup Championship preview: Who can earn promotion rights in 2020?". Stuff . Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "Otago v Southland live - National Provincial Championship". Stuff. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  7. ↑ "Christian LEO-WILLIE - Player statistics - NPC 2021". Itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
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