Semisi Paea (born 17 April 1999) is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Major League Rugby club New England Free Jacks and the Tonga national team.[1]

Semisi Paea
Born (1999-04-17) 17 April 1999 (age 27)
Tofoa, Tonga
Height1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight114 kg (251 lb; 17 st 13 lb)
SchoolRotorua Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker
Current team Bay of Plenty, New England Free Jacks
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021– Bay of Plenty 8 (5)
2023– New England Free Jacks 13 (5)
Correct as of 28 August 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021– Tonga 4 (0)
Correct as of 28 August 2023

Early life

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Paea was born in Tonga[2] but grew up and lives in Rotorua in New Zealand, where he represents Ngongotaha Rugby Club.[3]

Club career

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Paea was named in the Bay of Plenty squad for the 2021 Bunnings NPC.[4] At the end of the 2021 season, he was selected for the New Zealand Barbarians.[5] In 2023, he joined the New England Free Jacks for the 2023 Major League Rugby season.[6]

Paea made his debut for Tonga in 2021 against the Cook Islands.[7] He made further appearances for Tonga in the 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.[8]

References

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  1. "Semisi Paea". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  2. "New England Free Jacks Signs Semisi Paea". DJ Coil Rugby. 10 November 2022. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  3. "Teammates turned rivals in Tonga vs Cook Islands clash". RNZ. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  4. "New Bay Signings Face Former Team in Round 2 Bunnings Warehouse NPC Match-up". Bay of Plenty Rugby. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  5. "Players rewarded with New Zealand Barbarians squad selection". NZ Rugby. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  6. "Free Jacks sign Tongan international Semisi Paea". Americas Rugby News. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  7. "Tonga name six debutants to face Cook Islands". RNZ. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  8. "Rugby-Tonga without big guns for World Cup playoff amid injuries". Reuters. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
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