Patrick Ah Van

Patrick Ah Van

Personal information
Born	(1988-03-17) 17 March 1988 (age 35) [1] Auckland, New Zealand
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [1]
Weight	15 st 8 lb (99 kg) [1]
Playing information
Rugby league
Position	Wing, Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2006–10 New Zealand Warriors 54 16 5 0 74 2011 Bradford Bulls 28 12 97 0 242 2012–18 Widnes Vikings 118 91 73 0 510 2018(loan) → North Wales Crusaders 1 0 3 0 6 2018–19 Villegailhenc-Aragon 0 0 0 0 0 2019 Widnes Vikings 5 4 0 0 16 2020 Villegailhenc-Aragon 0 0 0 0 0 2021–22 North Wales Crusaders 36 18 6 0 84 2023 Oldham RLFC 11 13 5 0 62 2024– North Wales Crusaders 0 0 0 0 0 Total 253 154 189 0 994 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2009 Samoa 5 4 0 0 16
Rugby union
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2019–20 Sale FC Rugby Club 4 0 0 0 0 2023–24 Anselmians RUFC 0 0 0 0 0 Total 4 0 0 0 0
Source: [2] [3] [4] [5] As of 16 November 2023

Patrick Ah Van (born 17 March 1988) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the North Wales Crusaders in RFL League 1.

He previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL, and for the Bradford Bulls and the Widnes Vikings in the Super League. Ah Van also spent time on loan from Widnes at North Wales in the third tier. He also had another spell with the Vikings in the Betfred Championship and played for Villeghailhenc-Aragon XIII in the Elite 2 Championship.

Early life

Ah Van was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He is of Samoan and Chinese descent. ^[6] His brothers Tom and Ralph are also rugby league players with Tom previously playing for the Warriors Under 20s, and Ralph an ex Vulcans player.

Educated at Kelston Boys' High School, Ah Van played for New Lynn Stags and Te Atatu Roosters in the Auckland Rugby League competition before playing for the Mount Albert Lions in the Bartercard Cup.

Club career

New Zealand Warriors

Ah Van made his début for the New Zealand Warriors in 2006 against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. He went on to play in fifty four games for the club. In 2007 he also played for the Auckland Lions in the NSWRL Premier League, and he played for the Auckland Vulcans in the 2009 and 2010 NSW Cup competitions. In 2008, his third year at the club, Ah Van was still young enough to be eligible for the Toyota Cup team, and made thirteen appearances for the Junior Warriors, scoring six tries. ^[7]

Bradford

It was announced on 31 August 2010 that Ah Van had been released from the last year of his Warriors contract so he could sign a one-year deal with Bradford for the 2011 season.

2011 - 2011 Season

Ah Van appeared in three of the four pre-season games. He played against Halifax, Dewsbury Rams and Wakefield Trinity. He scored against Halifax (6 goals), Dewsbury (1 try, 7 goals) and Wakefield Trinity (2 tries, 4 goals).

Ah Van featured in all the games that season except for Round 10 against Salford, he scored 12 tries and kicked 97 goals for a total of 242 points.

Widnes

It was announced on 2 August 2011 that Ah Van had signed a two-year contract with Widnes for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

2012

Ah Van appeared in all three of Widnes' friendlies. He played against Warrington, Swinton and St. Helens. He scored against Warrington (3 goals), Swinton (1 goal) and St Helens (2 goals).

Ah Van featured in five consecutive games from Round 1 (Wakefield Trinity) to Round 5 (Hull Kingston Rovers). He also featured in three consecutive games from Round 10 Warrington to Round 12 (St. Helens). He featured in ten consecutive games from Round 14 (Catalans Dragons) to Round 24 (Leeds). He also appeared on the wing in the 40-38 Challenge Cup loss to St. Helens. He has scored 132 points this season, (16 tries, 34 goals).

2013

He missed Rounds 1-4 due to an injury. He featured in Round 5 (Hull) to Round 9 (Warrington). Ah Van was injured for Round 10-11. He featured in Round 12 (Castleford Tigers) to Round 13 (Wakefield Trinity). He was injured for Round 14-17. He returned to Round 18 (Wigan Warriors) to Round 27 (Salford). He also played in the Challenge Cup against Doncaster and Wigan Warriors. He has scored 116 points this season, (18 tries, 22 goals).

2014

He missed Rounds 1-5 due to injury. He featured in Round 6 (Hull F.C.) to Round 7 (Bradford). He scored 10 points this season, (2 tries, 1 goal). (For 2014 Super League season highlights, stats and results click on 2014 Super League season results)

Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII

He joined French club Villegailhenc-Aragon for the 2018-19 season. ^[8]

Sale FC

In 2019-20, Ah Van played four games for rugby union club Sale FC.

Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII (re-join)

On 12 October 2020 it was reported that he had re-signed for Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII in the Elite Two Championship ^[9]

North Wales Crusaders

On 11 April 2021 it was reported that he had signed for the North Wales Crusaders in RFL League 1. ^[10] Since he signed for the Welsh club in 2021, he's helped them get them 3rd place in successive seasons. In addition, he has also helped them through injury hit games by playing in halfback. He also helped them in a very good cup run playing against Hunslet R.L.F.C., played at Caldy RUFC, with a injury and helped the side.

Oldham RLFC

On 15 October 2022 it was reported that he had signed for the Oldham RLFC in RFL League 1. ^[11]

Anselmians RUFC

In September 2023, Patrick Ah Van joined Rugby Union club Anselmians RUFC who are playing their inaugural season (2023/24) at Tier 5, of the English rugby pyramid, in Regional 1 North West . Anselmians are based in Eastham on The Wirral Peninsula

North Wales Crusaders (re-join)

On 16 Nov 2023 it was reported that he had signed for North Wales Crusaders in the RFL League 1 for the 2024 season. ^[12]

International career

Ah Van was a New Zealand representative from an early age. In 2002 and 2003 he made the New Zealand Under-16 side while in 2005 he played for both the Junior Kiwis and New Zealand Residents sides. He captained the Junior Kiwis in 2007. ^[13]

In 2006 he was named in the New Zealand national rugby league team training squad for the 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations but had to withdraw due to injury.

He was named in the Samoa training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup but chose not to represent Samoa and was not selected in the final squad. ^[14]

In 2009 he was named as part of the Samoan side for the Pacific Cup. ^[15]

Career statistics

Season	Appearance	Tries	Goals	D/G	Points
2011 Bradford	28	12	97	0	242
2012 Widnes	20	16	34	0	132
2013 Widnes	19	18	22	0	116
2014 Widnes	2	2	1	0	10
Total	69	48	154	0	500

References

1. "Patrick Ah Van Widnes Vikings". superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
2. "Player Summary: Patrick Ah Van". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
3. "Statistics at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
4. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
5. itsrugby
6. "China set for Rugby League". 2 October 2012. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
7. Van,_Patrick Ah Van 2008 Archived 2011-10-03 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
8. "Patrick Ah Van will finally land in Elite 2". Treize Mondial. 18 December 2018.
9. "Patrick Ah Van returns to France". Love Rugby League. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
10. "Patrick Ah Van signs for North Wales Crusaders". Love Rugby League. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
11. "Patrick Ah Van finds new club for 2023". Love Rugby League. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
12. "Patrick Ah Van signs up to play 19th season as veteran winger re-joins former club". Love Rugby League. 16 November 2023.
13. "League: Ah Van in Junior squad". The New Zealand Herald . 20 September 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
14. "Samoa name World Cup Squad". League Unlimited. 5 August 2008. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
15. Daly, Phil (6 October 2009). "Poching names strong Samoan squad". therhinos.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2009.

External links

• Widnes Vikings profile