Api Pewhairangi

Api Pewhairangi
Personal information
Full name Apirana Pewhairangi[1]
Born (1992-03-19) 19 March 1992
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight 15 st 2 lb (96 kg)
Playing information
Rugby league
Position Stand-off, Centre

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013 Parramatta Eels 4 0 0 0 0
2016– London Broncos 51 35 38 0 216
2018(loan) → London Skolars 1 0 0 0 0
Total 56 35 38 0 216
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–17 Ireland 5 1 0 0 4
Rugby union

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–16 Connacht
As of 24 August 2018
Source: [2][3]

Apirana Pewhairangi (born 19 March 1992) is an Irish international rugby league footballer who plays for the London Broncos in the Championship. He plays as a five-eighth, with centre a secondary position.

He represented Ireland in rugby league at the 2013 World Cup. He briefly played rugby union signing for Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht in the Pro12. In union, he was registered with Connacht as a centre.

Early life

Pewhairangi was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand. He is of Māori, and Irish descent. Growing up, Pewhairangi played junior rugby for the Te Aroha Eels.

Rugby league career

Newcastle Knights (2009–2012)

Pewhairangi was signed by the Newcastle Knights in 2009. He played for the Knights' NYC team from 2010 to 2012, captaining the side in 2012.[4] However Pewhairangi did not break into the first-grade side during his time with the Knights.

Parramatta Eels (2013–2014)

In 2013, Pewhairangi moved to the Parramatta Eels, and played for the Wentworthville Magpies in the NSW Cup. In Round 9 of the 2013 NRL season he made his National Rugby League début for the Eels on 11 May 2013 against the Brisbane Broncos.[5]

Pewhairangi in action for the New Zealand Warriors

New Zealand Warriors (2015)

On 27 November 2014, after attending an open trial for their NSW Cup side, Pewhairangi signed with the New Zealand Warriors for the 2015 season.[6][7]

London Broncos (2016-)

On 12 May 2016, Kingstone Press Championship team London Broncos offered Pewairangi a 4-week trial at the club.[8] He made his début in London's 62-4 home win against Whitehaven, scoring 2 tries. After the game, the Broncos announced they have signed Pewhairangi on a contract until the end of the 2017 contract.[9]

Representative

In 2011, Pewhairangi represented the New Zealand Māori Residents in a match against the New Zealand Residents. In 2012, he was selected for the Junior Kiwis.

Pewhairangi qualified to play for Ireland through his grandmother from Lucan. Despite not having been capped before and not playing for the team at under-age level, Pewhairangi was named in the Irish squad for the 2013 World Cup.[10] He played in two of Ireland's tournament games.

Rugby union career

In June 2015 it was announced that Pewhairangi would switch codes, joining Irish rugby union side Connacht.[11] Pewhairangi trained with the squad in the 2015–16 preseason and featured in friendly matches against Grenoble, and Castres. However he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the Castres game.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "First class Manawatu opportunity". Stuff. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  2. ↑ "Players - Love Rugby League". Loverugbyleague.com. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  3. ↑ Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Api Pewhairangi - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  4. ↑ Chris Barclay (2012-07-26). "Disabled children inspire young player". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  5. ↑ "Api Pewhairangi - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  6. ↑ "Warriors Sign Irish International". Rugby League Week. 2014-11-27. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  7. ↑ "NSW CUP ROUND #16 v Mounties". Warriors.co.nz. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "Api Pewhairangi handed trial with London Broncos". Sky Sports. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  9. ↑ "London Broncos Rugby League - #WeAreLondon - » Api days for London Broncos with Pewhairangi's signature". Londonbroncosrl.com. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  10. ↑ "Rugby League World Cup 2013". Rlwc2013.com. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  11. ↑ "Ireland qualified Api Pewhairangi signs for Connacht". Irish Independent. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  12. ↑ "Pewhairangi joins long-term casualties". Galway Independent. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
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