Amanaki Taiyo Lotoahea (ロトアヘアアマナキ大洋, Lotoahea Amanaki Taiyo; born 14 April 1990) is a Tongan-born Japanese rugby union footballer who plays as either a fullback or a wing.[1]

Amanaki Taiyo Lotoahea
Born (1990-04-14) 14 April 1990 (age 36)
Lavenga, Tonga
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight107 kg (16 st 12 lb; 236 lb)
SchoolTopou College
UniversityHanazono University
Rugby union career
Position Fullback / Wing / Centre
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2025 Ricoh Black Rams 85 (209)
2016 Sunwolves 1 (0)
2025–2026 NEC Green Rockets 4 (10)
Correct as of 21 February 2021
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2018 Japan 8 (25)
Correct as of 21 February 2021
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2015 Japan Sevens 2
Correct as of 21 February 2021

Lotoahea played for the Ricoh Black Rams having joined them in 2014.[2][3] He was initially named in the first ever Sunwolves squad to compete in Super Rugby from the 2016 season,[4] but was later dropped from the squad after sustaining an injury.[5] He left the Black Rams, along with twelve other players, at the end of the 2024-25 season.[6]

Lotoahea was arrested on suspicion of assault in March 2026, following a street altercation in Shibuya in which he was accused of repeatedly striking a restaurant worker in the face.[7][8] His contract with the NEC Green Rockets was terminated several days after the incident.[9]

References

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  1. "Amanaki Lotoahea Top League Player Profile". Top League (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  2. "Amanaki Lotoahea Ricoh Black Rams Player Profile". Ricoh (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  3. "Amanaki Lotoahea itsrugby Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  4. "Sunwolves reveal squad, Hammett to coach". Sanzar Rugby. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  5. "最終登録メンバー発表" (Press release) (in Japanese). Sunwolves. 22 February 2016. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  6. 編集ラグリパ編集部 (21 May 2025). "ラグビーリパブリック" (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 April 2026.
  7. Pickering, Mark (10 March 2026). "Green Rockets' ex-Japan international arrested on suspicion of assault". RugbyJP. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
  8. 社会部, 時事通信. "リーグワン2部のラグビー選手逮捕 飲食店店員に暴行容疑―警視庁:時事ドットコム". 時事ドットコム (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 April 2026.
  9. "NECグリーンロケッツ東葛、ロトアヘア アマナキ大洋の契約解除を発表。3月8日に暴行疑いで逮捕。(ラグビーリパブリック(ラグビーマガジン))". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 April 2026.
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