| Date of birth | (2001-05-02) 2 May 2001 (age 23) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | De La Salle College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sofai Maka (born 2 May 2001) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who plays for the New Zealand national rugby sevens team.
Early life
He attended De La Salle College and played for Blues U20.
Club career
He appeared in the National Provincial Championship playing for Auckland in 2022 prior to making the move to North Harbour. He scored seven tries for Northern Harbour side in the 2024 NPC.
International career
In November 2024 he was called-up to the New Zealand national rugby union sevens team for the Dubai Sevens and South Africa Sevens legs of the 2024–25 SVNS series. He took the number 81 jersey in honour of his school address (De La Salle College 81 Gray Avenue, Auckland). He scored his first tries with a brace in a quarter finals win over South Africa at the Dubai Sevens.
Style of play
All Blacks Sevens coach Tomasi Cama described him as having "the potential to become a great sevens player…he makes a lot of line breaks, scores a lot of tries; he understands the game well".
References
- "Sofai Maka". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- "Sofai Maka". All.Rugby. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- "New look to All Blacks Sevens squad". Otago Daily Times. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- Fruean, Herschel (April 9, 2018). "Pre Season Players that are Killing It". hstop200.com. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- Morton, Finn (20 November 2024). "Waikato's backrow-wing utility headlines All Blacks Sevens squad". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- Lee, Henry (3 December 2024). "All Blacks Sevens' Dubai 7's ratings: Kiwis limp into semi-finals". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
- Pearson, Joseph (Nov 21, 2024). "In-demand Oli Mathis called up to All Blacks Sevens squad after breakout NPC season". Stuff.nz. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- Julian, Adam (30 November 2024). "Sofai Maka set to take SVNS by storm after flying NPC season". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- Morton, Finn (1 December 2024). "All Blacks Sevens end Blitzboks' incredible reign as Dubai champions". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- "Rising star Mathis called into All Blacks Sevens". rnz.co.nz. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
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