Date of birth | December 17, 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of birth | Pago Pago, American Samoa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Shalom Suniula (brother), Andrew Suniula (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Roland Suniula (born December 17, 1986) is an American international rugby union player who plays for the Austin Elite as a centre in Major League Rugby (MLR).
He previously played for the Seattle Seawolves in the MLR and the Ohio Aviators as a centre in PRO Rugby. He is the brother of Andrew and Shalom Suniula, who have also represented the United States Eagles rugby union (both sevens and XV's).
In 2004, Suniula graduated from Kelston Boys' High School which has produced several New Zealand All Blacks players.
Suniula played for North Harbour between 2005–2008.
He debuted for the U.S. Sevens team in October 2008 in their NAWIRA RWC 7s Qualifier event and has appeared in 13 IRB tournaments.
He played with the Chicago Griffins for the 2012 Rugby Super League season.
Suniula signed with FC Auch Gers for the 2012-13 Pro D2 season. After one season with team he joined CS Vienne where he made 18 appearances for the team during the 2013-14 season. [1] In May 2014, Suniula signed a two-year deal with an option for a third with RC Chalon another Fédérale 1 side. [2]
In 2016, Roland signed to play for the Ohio Aviators in the inaugural season of PRO Rugby USA. On April 17, 2016, he scored the first try for Ohio against the Denver Stampede.
During the 2016–17 season, Roland played for Ohio's Columbus Rugby Club, as well as a coach for the Tiger Rugby Academy.
In September 2017, Roland played with Misfits Rugby in Colorado's Aspen Ruggerfest.
He also played for Rugby Reggio in Emilia, Italy in the Italian Eccellenza League for the 2018 season.
In 2018, Roland played with his brother Andrew for Austin Elite and in 2019, he currently plays with his brother Shalom for the Seattle Seawolves in the MLR. [3]
Andrew Suniula is a former rugby football player who played rugby union as a centre for the United States national team. He last played for the Austin Gilgronis and is now their Rugby Operations Director and a member of the coaching staff.
Shalom Suniula is a former rugby league and rugby union player, who played for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR), and for the United States national rugby sevens team. He played rugby union for the United States Eagles XV's, USA Sevens, and at club level for Belmont Shore RFC, as a scrum-half or fly-half. His brothers Andrew and Roland Suniula also played rugby for the U.S.
Andrew Durutalo is a Fijian-raised American-born professional rugby player who plays for the Seattle Seawolves of Major League Rugby (MLR). He has been capped by the U.S. national sevens team and the United States national rugby union team.
Olive Onelani Kilifi is an American rugby union player, who plays prop for the United States national rugby union team and for the Seattle Seawolves of Major League Rugby (MLR).
James Malcolm is a Scottish rugby union player who plays for the Seattle Seawolves of Major League Rugby (MLR).
Phil Mack is a rugby union scrum-half who played for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR). He was the Seawolves head coach, winning an MLR Championship Shield in 2018. He also plays for the Canada national rugby union team. He is currently an assistant coach for the Pacific Pride rugby team.
Jake Ilnicki is a Canadian rugby union prop who plays international rugby for Canada and professional club rugby for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby (MLR). He has also played for the New South Wales Country Eagles in Australia's National Rugby Championship and for the Seattle Seawolves in MLR.
William Magie is an English-born American former rugby union player who last played fly-half for the Austin Gilgronis in Major League Rugby.
Major League Rugby (MLR) is a professional rugby union competition for clubs in North America. In the 2023 season it was contested by twelve teams: eleven from the United States and one from Canada. While operating outside of the governance and oversight of the national governing body, the league is officially sanctioned by USA Rugby—a member union of Rugby Americas North (RAN)—and is consequently part of World Rugby. The league was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
Bryce Campbell is an American rugby union player who currently plays for the Chicago Hounds of Major League Rugby (MLR). He also plays for the United States national rugby union team.
The Seattle Seawolves are an American professional rugby union team based in Tukwila, Washington, that competes in Major League Rugby (MLR). The team was founded in 2017. The Seawolves won two MLR championships in 2018 and 2019, and lost in the 2022 final. They play at Starfire Sports, a 4,500-seat stadium in Tukwila that primarily serves soccer teams.
The 2018 Major League Rugby season was the inaugural season of Major League Rugby, an annual rugby union competition sanctioned by USA Rugby. The seven inaugural teams were based in the United States. The competition began the weekend of April 21–22 with three matches, with New Orleans defeating Houston 35–26 to open the season.
Peter Malcolm is an American rugby union player who plays hooker for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR) and the United States men's national team.
Vili Tolutaʻu is an American rugby union player who plays as a forward for the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby (MLR). He also represents America playing for the United States men's national team.
Devereaux St Bruno Ferris is a New Zealand-born, American rugby union player who plays at scrum-half for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR). He also represents America as a member of the United States men's national team and USA Selects.
Ben Mitchell is an English-born Irish professional rugby union player who is currently a lock. As of 2024, he is with the United States team Rugby Football Club Los Angeles in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Brad Tucker is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays lock and flanker for the New York Ironworkers in Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played for the Seattle Seawolves where he won an MLR Championship in 2019.
Sean McNulty is a professional rugby union player who currently plays as a hooker for the Miami Sharks of Major League Rugby (MLR).
Jake Turnbull, is an Australian-born American international rugby union player who currently captains Anthem Rugby Carolina in the MLR.