Ataata Moeakiola

Ataata Moeakiola
Born (1996-02-06) 6 February 1996 (age 30)
Tonga
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight99 kg (218 lb; 15 st 8 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fullback, Fly-half, Number 8, Flanker
Current team Kobelco Steelers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020– Kobelco Steelers 60 (180)
2024 Manawatu 4 (10)
Correct as of 26 February 2023
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 Sunwolves 0 (0)
2019 Chiefs 9 (15)
Correct as of 21 February 2021
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2016 Japan U20 10 (39)
2015– Japan 4 (15)
Correct as of 21 February 2021

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.

Youth career

Moeakiola, 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.

He gained much attention for grabbing a spectacular hat-trick inside 30 minutes against South Africa at the under-20 Rugby Championship in England.

Professional career

Moeakiola signed for the Chiefs for the 2019 Super Rugby season and will look to make his debut in the competition.

International career

He was named in the Japan squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Reference list

  1. ↑ "Strength across the field for Gallagher Chiefs" (Press release). Chiefs. 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "Super Rugby a dream come true for Chiefs' Tongan-Japanese winger Ataata Moeakiola". Stuff. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Tongan force a lethal weapon for Japan". New Zealand Herald. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Giant Japanese wing Ataata Moeakiola scores hat-trick to start comparisons to Jonah Lomu". Stuff. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Rugby: Japan winger surprise inclusion in Chiefs squad". RNZ. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Japan Training Squad for Rugby World Cup 2019". Japan Rugby. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2023.