Fetuli M. A. Paea (born 16 August 1994)[1] is a Tongan rugby union player.[2][3] He has represented Tonga internationally and has also represented the nation in Rugby sevens. His playing position is Centre or Wing. He currently plays for Italian team Zebre Parma in United Rugby Championship.[4]
| Date of birth | 16 August 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Nuku'alofa, Tonga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 189 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career
editPaea made his debut for Tasman in Round 3 of the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup against Manawatu coming off the bench in a 64-3 win for the Mako. He played 9 games for the Mako in 2019, 8 off the bench as the side went unbeaten to claim their first Mitre 10 Cup title. Following his impressive impact from the bench for Tasman Paea was named in the Crusaders squad for the 2020 Super Rugby season.[5] He made his Super Rugby debut during Super Rugby Aotearoa later in the year against the Highlanders, he played 4 games for the Christchurch based side during their Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign which they went on to win. Looking for more game time Paea moved south to the Highlanders for the 2021 Super Rugby season.[6] Paea was again part of the Mako side that won the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup. Paea was named in the Moana Pasifika squad to play the Maori All Blacks in late 2020, starting in the number 13 jersey in a 28-21 loss. Paea missed the entire 2021 Super Rugby season with injury as the Highlanders made the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final. In Round 2 of the 2021 Bunnings NPC Paea suffered another injury while playing for Tasman against Auckland, ruling him out for the rest of the competition. The Mako went on to make the final before losing 23–20 to Waikato.
Paea signed for Zebre Parma in May 2023 ahead of the 2023–24 United Rugby Championship. He made his debut in Round 1 of the 2023–24 season against the Ulster.[7]
After the experience also with Tonga sevens team, in May 2022 Paea was named in the Tonga squad for the first time since 2017 for the Pacific Nations Cup.
References
edit- ^ "Fetuli Paea". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ "Fetuli Paea". Tasman Mako. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ "Fetuli Paea". thehighlanders.co.nz. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "L'INTERNAZIONALE TONGANO FETULI PAEA FIRMA CON LE ZEBRE". Zebre Parma. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "Investec Super Rugby class of 2020 announced". Super Rugby NZ. 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ "Highlanders sign Tasman back Fetuli Paea from the Crusaders". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "DELLE BELLE ZEBRE SFIORANO IL SUCCESSO CASALINGO CONTRO LA CORAZZATA ULSTER". Zebre Parma. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
External links
edit- Fetuli Paea at the World Rugby Men's Sevens Series (archived)
- Fetuli Paea at ItsRugby.co.uk