Atunaisa Moli

Atu Moli
Full name Atunaisa Moli
Date of birth (1995-06-12) 12 June 1995
Place of birth Gisborne, New Zealand
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 127 kg (280 lb)
School Marlborough Boys' College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team Waikato / Chiefs
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015− Waikato 12 (0)
2016− Chiefs 10 (5)
Correct as of 16 October 2016
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 New Zealand Schools 3 (0)
2014−15 New Zealand U20 10 (0)
2017 New Zealand All Blacks 0 (0)
Correct as of 7 August 2017

Atu Moli (born 12 June 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a prop for Waikato in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Chiefs in the international Super Rugby competition.[1][2][3][4][5]

Early career

Moli was born in the northern New Zealand town of Gisborne, but did his secondary education on New Zealand's South Island, attending Marlborough Boys' College in Blenheim. While attending high school, he represented Marlborough at under-16 and Tasman at under-18 level before moving to Waikato after graduation and representing them at under-19 level.[5]

Senior career

Moli debuted for Waikato during the 2015 ITM Cup in a match against Tasman on 14 August 2015. Hindered by a foot injury, he only played 6 games during his first season of provincial level rugby, 2 of which were from the start. 2016 again saw him make 6 appearances, this time however, they were all from the start as he began to make the number 1 jersey his own.[2][6]

Super Rugby

After just 6 games at provincial level, Moli made the Chiefs Super Rugby squad for the 2016 Super Rugby season,[3] debuting in a match against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth. A season-ending injury to Nepo Laulala meant that he received more game time during his debut season that he might have otherwise expected, playing 10 times and scoring 1 try.[2] He was retained in the squad for 2017.[4]

Moli will miss the whole 2018 Super Rugby season due to a leg injury.

International

Moli represented New Zealand Schools in 2013 and was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 teams which competed in the 2014 and 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championships. He appeared 5 times as New Zealand finished 3rd in 2014 and made another 5 appearances, this time as captain as the Kiwis lifted the title in 2015 with a 21-16 victory over England in the final.[7][8][9][10]

Moli was selected to be an non-playing "Apprentice" in the All Blacks for the 2017 Rugby Championship. Moli is the third New Zealander to be selected for the All Blacks as an apprentice, following team mates Ardie Savea who was an apprentice in 2013 and Jordie Barrett who held that title in 2016. After injuries to Joe Moody and Owen Franks, the All Blacks coaches had to seek more depth in the end-of-year tour. This meant that after starting in a 31-22 loss against the All Blacks for the Barbarians coached by Robbie Deans on 4 November, Moli joined the All Blacks squad again, making his debut for New Zealand against a French XV 10 days later, replacing Tim Perry with 23 minutes left. Moli was one of six players to make their All Blacks debut in the 28-23 win.

Career Honours

New Zealand Under-20

Super Rugby Statistics

As of 8 December 2016[2]
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
2016 Chiefs10644431000500
Total10644431000500

References

  1. ↑ "Atu Moli Waikato Player Profile". Mooloo Rugby. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Atu Moli itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Chiefs sign New Zealand Under-20s captain Atu Moli on two-year deal". Stuff.co.nz. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Chiefs 2017 Squad Guide" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Atu Moli Chiefs Player Profile". Chiefs Rugby. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Chiefs prop Atu Moli riding the wave in his first season of Super Rugby". Rugby Heaven. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "NZU20 squad named for IRB JWC2014". All Blacks.com. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  8. ↑ "NZ Under 20 squad named for World Champs in Italy". All Blacks.com. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  9. ↑ "2013 NZ Schools team named". All Blacks.com. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  10. ↑ "Atu Moli New Zealand Under 20 Player Profile". All Blacks.com. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
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