Haineala Lutui (born 8 August 2006) is an English rugby union player who plays as a number 8 for Premiership Women's Rugby side Loughborough Lightning.
| Born | 8 August 2006[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| School | Worcester Royal Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Loughborough University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Aleki Lutui (father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Club career
editLutui played for Worcester Rugby Club from under-13 through to under-18 level. She joined Premiership Women's Rugby side Loughborough Lightning in August 2024.[1] She made her league debut in the opening fixture of the Premiership Women’s Rugby 2025-26 season against Harlequins Women on 28 October 2025, starting at number eight.[2] Her performances for Loughborough included scoring two tries in a 19-12 win against Sale Sharks Women on 2 November 2025.[3] In May 2026, she was nominated for Premiership Women's Rugby breakthrough player of the season and was named in the Rugby Players' Association’s Under-23 Team of the Season.[4][5]
International career
editLutui played for England at under-18 level.[6] She made her England U20 in the 2025 Six Nations Summer Series.[7] In March 2025, she was called-up to the England women's national rugby union team ahead of the 2025 Women's Six Nations Championship.[8] In March 2026, she was called-up again for the England team prior to the 2026 Women's Six Nations Championship.[9] She made her debut as a replacement for Morwenna Talling in England's opening game, a 33-12 victory against Ireland on 11 April.[10][11] The following weekend she scored her first international try in an 84-7 win against Scotland on 18 April.[12]
Personal life
editBorn in New Zealand,[1] she is of Tongan descent; the daughter of Tongan former rugby union international Aleki Lutui. She attended Worcester Royal Grammar School in England.[13]
References
edit- 1 2 3 "ENGLAND UNDER-18S FORWARD HAINEALA LUTUI SIGNS FOR LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING ALONGSIDE SCOTLAND WING CIERON BELL". thepwr. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ↑ Powell, Jennie (23 October 2025). "Sagapolu and Brody set for Lightning debuts in PWR season opener". 4theloveofsport. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ↑ Nelson, Craig (2 Nov 2025). "Saracens beat London rivals Quins - PWR round-up". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 Nov 2025.
- ↑ Harvey, Joe (8 June 2026). "Two World Cup winners included in RPA Women's U23 Team of the Season". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ "Freeman nominated for Prem and England men's awards". BBC Sport. 21 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ "RGS Worcester student Haineala Lutui called up to England U18 squad". Worcester News. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ↑ Harvey, Joe (13 October 2025). "Five young English stars to look out for in Premiership Women's Rugby". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ↑ Thomas, Martyn (10 March 2025). "England add 12 players to Women's Six Nations squad". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ↑ Hennon, Mike (20 March 2025). "Seven uncapped players in new-era Red Roses squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ↑ Telfer, Alastair (9 April 2026). "Rowland starts as much-changed England face Ireland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ Gooding, Tammy; Lissaman, Clare. "Daughter's England rugby debut 'pretty special'". BBC News. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ "England score 12 tries in huge win over Scotland". BBC Sport. 18 April 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- ↑ "RGS Worcester pupil and daughter of Aleki Lutui picked for England". Worcester News. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
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