Malakai Hala-Ngatai

Last updated

Malakai Hala-Ngatai
Born (2003-01-07) 7 January 2003 (age 22)
New Zealand
Height184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight125 kg (276 lb; 19 st 10 lb)
School Manukura
Rugby union career
Position Prop
Current team Moana Pasifika, Manawatu
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2023– Manawatu 18 (5)
2024–2025 New England Free Jacks 30 (17)
2026– Moana Pasifika
Correct as of 9 November 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2023 New Zealand U20 4 (0)
Correct as of 9 November 2025

Malakai Hala-Ngatai (born 7 January 2003) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who plays for Moana Pasifika and Manawatu. His preferred position is prop. [1]

Contents

Early career

Hala-Ngatai was born in New Zealand but is of Tongan and Māori ancestry. [2] He attended Manukura school where he played rugby and earned selection for the New Zealand Māori under-18 Ngā Whatukura team. [3] He then earned selection for the Hurricanes U20 side in 2022, [4] before earning selection for the New Zealand U20 side in 2023. [5] He plays his club rugby for Kia Toa. [6]

Professional career

Hala-Ngatai has represented Manawatu in the National Provincial Championship since 2023, being named in the squad for the 2025 Bunnings NPC. [7] In 2024, he joined the New England Free Jacks for the 2024 Major League Rugby season, helping them to win their second consecutive title, [8] before returning for 2025 as they won their third consecutive title. [9] He then signed for Moana Pasifika ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. [10]

References

  1. ↑ "Malakai Hala-Ngatai". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  2. ↑ "Malakai Hala-Ngatai". Moana Pasifika. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  3. ↑ "Top Manawatū schoolboy rugby players selected for national teams". Stuff.co.nz. 13 September 2001. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Hurricanes under 20s squad named". Hurricanes. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  5. ↑ "New Zealand Under 20 team named ahead of final World Rugby U20 Championship pool match against Japan Under 20". NZ Rugby. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "Kia Toa's free-running big men too much for Yellows". Stuff.co.nz. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  7. ↑ @manawaturugby; (15 July 2025). "OUR HIGGINS CONCRETE MANAWATŪ TURBOS" . Retrieved 17 July 2025– via Instagram.
  8. ↑ "From debut to dominance: A close look at the Free Jacks' new players and their unique impacts on the pitch". New England Free Jacks. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  9. ↑ "Free Jacks reload roster with return of more 2024 Champions". New England Free Jacks. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  10. ↑ "Moana Pasifika name squad for 2026". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.


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