Folau Niua

Folau Niua
Full name Folau Niua
Date of birth (1985-01-27) January 27, 1985
Place of birth Palo Alto, California, United States
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight 197 lb (89 kg)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Fly-half
Amateur clubs
Years Club / team
East Palo Alto
San Francisco Golden Gate RFC
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2014 Glasgow Warriors 1 (0)
correct as of June 27, 2014.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2013–present United States 17 (28)
correct as of October 7, 2015.
Sevens national teams
Years Club / team Comps
2011–present United States 28 (322; 29t)
correct as of September 2, 2015.

Folau Niua (born January 27, 1985) is an American rugby union player, who plays center for the United States national rugby team and fly-half for the United States national rugby sevens team.

Early career

Folau Niua is from East Palo Alto in California. Niua previously played his club rugby with the East Palo Alto Razorbacks, where he helped the club win a Division II national championship. He then played with San Francisco Golden Gate, where he helped the team win a Rugby Super League national championship.[1] Niua played in the August 2011 national all-star championships, where his impressive scoring ability and fitness led the Pacific Coast team.[2]

U.S. national team (15s)

Folau Niua playing for the USA during the 2015 World Cup

Niua had been in consideration during summer of 2011 for a place at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but ultimately did not make the tournament roster.[3] Niua made the roster for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

U.S. national team (7s)

Niua debuted for the U.S. national sevens team at the 2011 Pan American Games, where, despite his lack of international tournament experience, he was the starting flyhalf.[4] Niua was the top scorer for the U.S. in that tournament with 41 points, including a 78% success rate in kicking his conversions, helping the U.S. achieve a bronze medal.[5]

Niua signed a professional contract with USA Rugby in January 2012 to play full-time for the U.S. national sevens team. Niua was a regular on the U.S. national team in the 2011–12 IRB Sevens World Series, finishing the season as one of the leading scorers for the team. Niua has also played for the U.S. during the 2012–13 IRB Sevens World Series, leading the team with 30 points at the 2012 South Africa Sevens.[6]

Professional career

In February 2014 Niua signed a contract with the Glasgow Warriors.[7] Niua was released by Glasgow at the end of the season having made only one appearance for the club.[8]

See also

References

  1. Rugby Mag, Niua Aiming High, November 16, 2011, http://www.rugbymag.com/usa-sevens-men/2706-niua-aiming-high.html
  2. Rugby Mag, Round 2 in Men's 7s NASC, August 26, 2011, http://www.rugbymag.com/news/sevens/all-stars/1784-round-2-in-mens-7s-nasc.html
  3. This Is American Rugby, Eagles 50-man roster for the World Cup, June 21, 2011, http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2011/06/eagles-50-man-roster-for-world-cup.html
  4. Rugby Mag, Niua Aiming High, November 16, 2011, http://www.rugbymag.com/usa-sevens-men/2706-niua-aiming-high.html
  5. Rugby Mag, Niua Aiming High, November 16, 2011, http://www.rugbymag.com/usa-sevens-men/2706-niua-aiming-high.html
  6. IRB.com, HSBC Sevens World Series, South Africa, Statistics, http://www.irbsevens.com/destination/edition=2/statistics/season=2012/statistics.html
  7. "Niua Headed To Glasgow Warriors". Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  8. "Niua leaves Glasgow". The Extra.
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