Quinn Ngawati (born 15 June 1999) is a Canadian rugby union player currently playing for Rugby New York (Ironworkers) of Major League Rugby (MLR) in the U.S.

Quinn Ngawati
Personal information
Born (1999-06-15) 15 June 1999 (age 25)
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight220 lb (15 st 10 lb; 100 kg)
Playing information
Rugby league
PositionCentre, Second-row, Stand-off
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2017–18 Toronto Wolfpack 3 0 0 0 0
2018(loan) London Skolars 9 1 0 0 4
2020–20 Toronto Wolfpack 0 0 0 0 0
Total 12 1 0 0 4
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2017 Canada 1 0 3 0 6
Rugby union
PositionCentre, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021– Rugby New York 30 2 0 0 10
2022 Mid Canterbury 3 0 0 0 0
Total 33 2 0 0 10
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021 Canada 6 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 29 January 2021

He formerly represented the Toronto Wolfpack in the Super League, becoming the first Canadian-born player to play professional rugby league.[2]

Background

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Ngawati was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He is of Māori descent through his New Zealand born father. He is a graduate of the renowned boarding school, St. Michaels University School where he captained the school’s rugby team to a Provincial Championship.

Playing career

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Rugby League

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Ngawati has represented Canada at both rugby league and rugby union at age-grade level; playing league for the under-17 team and union for the under-19 team.[3][4]

After attending a tryout for Toronto Wolfpack in Vancouver, Ngawati was one of three players to make the cut after attending the Wolfpack training camp in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England.[5] His professional debut came in round 14 of the 2017 season when he came on as an interchange player in the 55th minute of the game against Gloucestershire All Golds.[4] Ngawati made his debut for the Canadian national team on 16 September 2017, kicking 3 goals against the United States.[6]

In March 2018, Ngawati was sent on loan, along with Wolfpack teammate Ryan Burroughs, to League 1 side London Skolars, for the remainder of the 2018 season. Recalled by Toronto in June 2018 he made his final appearance for the Wolfpack against Featherstone Rovers on 23 July 2018. In October 2018 it was announced that Ngawati was leaving the club and the sport to return to British Columbia to pursue a career in aviation.[7]

In March 2020 he had a change of heart and returned to rugby league re-joining Toronto.[8]

Rugby Union

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On October 2, 2020, it was announced that he had switched codes to sign for Rugby United New York for the upcoming Major League Rugby season[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Quinn Ngawati". Love Rugby League.
  2. ^ Davidson, Neil (9 July 2017). "Wolfpack foes enjoy trip to Toronto but rugby league journey comes at a cost". Times Colonist. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  3. ^ Johnston, Patrick (14 December 2016). "Victoria teen Quinn Ngawati chasing English rugby league dream". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Canadian teen Quinn Ngawati makes Wolfpack debut as Toronto thumps All Golds". National Post. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  5. ^ Davidson, Neil (3 January 2017). "Toronto Wolfpack rugby team take on promising Canadian teen as a 'project'". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Canada 18 : United States 36". Rugby League European Federation.
  7. ^ "Canadian teenage forward Quinn Ngawati leaves the Toronto Wolfpack". Times Colonist. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Wolfpack Sign Canadian Quinn Ngawati". Toronto Wolfpack RLFC. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  9. ^ "RUNY signs Quinn Ngawati from Toronto Wolfpack". Americas Rugby News. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
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