Jordan Petaia

Last updated

Jordan Petaia
Jordan Petaia 2017.jpg
Born (2000-03-14) 14 March 2000 (age 25)
Werribee, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia [1]
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight103 kg (16 st 3 lb; 227 lb)
School Brisbane State High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Centre, Fullback
Youth career
2013–2017 Brisbane State High School
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2018–2024 Reds 58 (80)
2018 Queensland Country 9 (55)
2025- USA Perpignan 0 (0)
Correct as of 7 June 2024
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2017 Australia Schoolboys 1 (0)
2018 Australia U20 2 (0)
2019– Australia 31 (40)
Correct as of 10 April 2024
Football career
Profile
Position Tight end
Career information
High school Brisbane State High School
NFL draft 2025: undrafted
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only

Jordan Petaia (born 14 March 2000) is an Australian professional rugby union player for Top 14 club USA Perpignan. He previously played rugby union for the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby and for Australia in international matches. He also spent time as an American football tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League in 2025. A utility back, Petaia is most often used in the centres for both club and country.

Contents

Early life

Petaia is of Samoan and Australian heritage. [2] He was born in Victoria in 2000, and raised in Brisbane, Queensland. [3]

During his time at Brisbane State High School Petaia spent time playing on the wing for the 2016 1st XV Premiership team and in his final year played fullback. [4] In his final year at the school he was selected in the Australian Schools Rugby Union side that played Fiji and New Zealand. [5] Petaia has cited former Queensland Reds player Will Genia in the 2011 Super Rugby Final as a turning point in his journey in becoming a professional rugby player. [6]

Rugby union career

Petaia made his Super Rugby debut on 7 April 2018, round 8, against the Brumbies at GIO Stadium, Canberra. The Queensland Reds lost 45–21. [7] [8] [9] Petaia scored his first ever try in the Super Rugby and for the Queensland Reds in round 14 against the Hurricanes, losing narrowly, 38–34 in Wellington. [10] [11] Petaia's second try came against rivals the New South Wales Waratahs in round 16. The Queensland Reds lost at home – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – 41–52. [12]

2024, his final season with the Reds before transitioning to American football, was plagued by injury. [13]

Petaia returned to rugby in 2025, signing for Top 14 club USA Perpignan in France. [14]

International career

Australia

Petaia was called up to the Australia squad by coach Michael Cheika in early August 2018, before Bledisloe Test One in Sydney, New South Wales. [15] However, he did not make the final team to play against New Zealand. [16]

Petaia's international debut was during a pool match against Uruguay in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, scoring a try on his second touch. [17] He set up another try before being rested at half time.

International tries

As of 9 September 2023 [18]
TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay Ōita, Japan Oita Stadium 2019 Rugby World Cup 5 October 2019Win45 – 10
2Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Ōita, Japan Oita Stadium 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals 23 October 2021Win23 – 32
3Flag of England.svg  England Perth, Australia Optus Stadium 2022 England rugby union tour of Australia 2 July 2022Win30 – 28
4Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Mendoza, Argentina Estadio Malvinas Argentinas 2022 Rugby Championship 6 August 2022Win26 – 41
5Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand Eden Park 2022 Rugby Championship 24 September 2022Loss40 – 14
6IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Dublin, Ireland Aviva Stadium 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals 19 November 2022Loss13 – 10
7Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Paris, France Stade de France 2023 Rugby World Cup 9 September 2023Win35 – 15

American football career

In December 2024, Petaia left the Queensland Reds to pursue an American football career. [19] On 9 December 2024, he was selected for the National Football League's International Player Pathway (IPP) program at the position of tight end. [20]

Petaia signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on 2 April 2025. [21] He was waived/injured on 7 August. [22]

References

  1. ↑ Newman, Beth (13 November 2018). "The family ties that bind To'omua and heir Jordan". Rugby.com.au. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  2. ↑ Tucker, Jim (25 April 2023). "Jordan Petaia is starting to deliver on his unlimited potential". Rugbypass.com. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  3. ↑ Phillips, Sam (5 April 2018). "Reds name youngest Super Rugby debutant in history". Rugby.com.au. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  4. ↑ Ticker, Jim (4 July 2018). "Super Rugby: Queensland Reds put Jordan Petaia in hot seat for Melbourne Rebels clash". The Courier Mail . Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "ASRU-TEAMS-2010-2018.pdf" (PDF). schoolsrugby.com.au. Australian Schools Rugby Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  6. ↑ Payten, Iain (8 August 2018). "The moment Will Genia inspired Jordan Petaia to be a Wallaby". Rugby.com.au. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  7. ↑ "Brumbies v Reds". Nine's Wide World of Sports . 7 April 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  8. ↑ Doran, Christy (7 April 2018). "Super Rugby: Brumbies beat Reds 45-21 in crucial Canberra clash". Fox Sports Australia . Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  9. ↑ Caffrey, Oliver (8 April 2018). "Super Rugby: Brumbies score big win over Reds". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  10. ↑ Ticker, Jim (19 May 2018). "Super Rugby: Queensland Reds suffer narrow loss to Hurricanes". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "Reds beaten by Hurricanes in Super Rugby". SBS News . 18 May 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  12. ↑ "Queensland Reds vs. New South Wales Waratahs". ESPN . 2 June 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  13. ↑ "Former Wallabies star Jordan Petaia signed by Los Angeles Chargers". ESPN.com . ESPN. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  14. ↑ Williamson, AFP and Nathan (27 August 2025). "Former Wallaby Petaia leaves NFL, signs with Top 14 side". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  15. ↑ Newman, Beth (5 August 2018). "Teenager Petaia bolts into Wallabies' Bledisloe camp". Rugby.com.au. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  16. ↑ Newman, Beth (12 August 2018). "Hodge coy on move to no.13 as Cheika names Wallabies squad for Bledisloe". Rugby.com.au. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  17. ↑ Decent, Tom (5 October 2019). "Wallabies cruise to victory over Uruguay as Petaia stars on debut". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  18. ↑ "Jordan PETAIA profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  19. ↑ Hytner, Mike (2 December 2024). "Wallabies star Jordan Petaia walks away from rugby union to chase NFL dream". The Guardian .
  20. ↑ Morgan, Charlie (9 December 2024). "Eight more rugby players and reigning Olympic champion in latest NFL recruitment wave". The Daily Telegraph .
  21. ↑ "Los Angeles Chargers Sign Jordan Petaia". Los Angeles Chargers . 2 April 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  22. ↑ "Los Angeles Chargers Sign Thomas Yassmin". Chargers.com. 7 August 2025.
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