Ataata Moeakiola (born 6 February 1996 in Tonga) is a Tongan-born, Japanese rugby union player who plays on the wing. He most recently played for the Chiefs in 2019.[1]
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| Date of birth | 6 February 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Tonga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 99 kg (218 lb; 15 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Youth career
editMoeakiola, originally from Tonga, having left Tonga aged just 15 thanks to a university rugby scholarship in Japan. He played for the Japan's U20 side at the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in 2016.[2]
He gained much attention for grabbing a spectacular hat-trick inside 30 minutes against South Africa at the under-20 Rugby Championship in England.[3][4]
Professional career
editMoeakiola signed for the Chiefs for the 2019 Super Rugby season and will look to make his debut in the competition.[5]
International career
editHe was named in the Japan squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[6]
Reference list
edit- ^ "Strength across the field for Gallagher Chiefs" (Press release). Chiefs. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- ^ "Super Rugby a dream come true for Chiefs' Tongan-Japanese winger Ataata Moeakiola". Stuff. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ "Tongan force a lethal weapon for Japan". New Zealand Herald. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ "Giant Japanese wing Ataata Moeakiola scores hat-trick to start comparisons to Jonah Lomu". Stuff. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ "Rugby: Japan winger surprise inclusion in Chiefs squad". RNZ. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ "Japan Training Squad for Rugby World Cup 2019". Japan Rugby. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
External links
edit- Ataata Moeakiola at ESPNscrum
- Ataata Moeakiola at ItsRugby.co.uk
