Martin Iosefo

Martin Iosefo
Date of birth (1990-01-13) 13 January 1990 (age 34)
Place of birthHawaii, U.S.
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight104 kg (229 lb)
UniversityUniversity of Montana
Rugby union career
Position(s) Center
Current team Seattle Seawolves
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015 Denver ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022 Seattle Seawolves 8 (5)
Correct as of 5 April 2022[1]
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2019 United States 9 (10)
Correct as of 13 December 2021
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2014–2021 United States 53
Correct as of 13 December 2021

Martin Iosefo (born January 13, 1990) is an American rugby union player who currently plays for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played several seasons with the United States national rugby sevens team.

Early life

Iosefo grew up in Wahiawa on the island of Oahu in Hawaii where he learned to play rugby. Between the ages of 4 and 15 he lived in Samoa with his brother and father.[2]

After finishing Leilehua High School in Wahiawa, he went to the University of Montana to play wide receiver in American football as a walk-on.[3]

Iosefo started playing rugby competitively while in Missoula, Montana with the University of Montana Jesters.[4] Iosefo played with the Men's Collegiate All-Americans at the 2014 Serevi RugbyTown Sevens.[5] Iosefo played with the Denver Barbarians at the 2015 Club 7s Nationals.[6]

Iosefo has been recognized for his size and athleticism,[7] as well as for his hard hits at defense as a centre.[8]

U.S. national rugby sevens team

Iosefo debuted with the U.S. national rugby sevens team at the 2014 Dubai Sevens.[9] Iosefo missed the 2015 Hong Kong Sevens and the 2015 Japan Sevens due to school commitments, but rejoined the team for the 2015 London Sevens.[10]

Iosefo was part of the U.S. team that won bronze at the 2015 Pan Am Games. Iosefo also played for the U.S. at the 2015 NACRA Sevens where the United States beat Canada in the final 21–5 to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Iosefo made the "dream team" for the 2016 Canada Sevens.[11] At the 2016 London Sevens, Iosefo scored a try 11 seconds into the match against Fiji, one of the fastest tries in the World Series. Iosefo played for the U.S. at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, where the team finished in ninth place.

Career statistics

As of the end of 2021, Iosefo was ranked among the top U.S. players for statistics on the World Rugby Sevens Series:

Sevens Series statistics
Category Number U.S.
Rank		 Ref Notes
Runs 666 2 [12]
Points 403 10
Clean breaks 129 4 [13]
Matches 278 7 [14]
Tackles 294 6 [15]
Tries 79 8 [16]

References

  1. ^ "Martin IOSEFO, Centre". its rugby. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  2. ^ "USA sevens star Martin Iosefo on his island upbringing". Rugby World. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  3. ^ "ABC All-Star: UM's Olympic Rugby Hopeful-Martin Iosefo", ABC Fox Montana, May 21, 2015.
  4. ^ "UM rugby standout headed to Olympic tryout", Montana Kaimin, November 13, 2014.
  5. ^ "Iosefo Rejoins Eagles 7s Team", Goff Rugby Report, April 23, 2015.
  6. ^ "Semi-Finals Set at Club 7s Nationals", Rugby Today, August 8, 2015.
  7. ^ "UM rugby standout headed to Olympic tryout", Montana Kaimin, November 13, 2014.
  8. ^ "Iosefo Rejoins Eagles 7s Team", Goff Rugby Report, April 23, 2015.
  9. ^ "ABC All-Star: UM's Olympic Rugby Hopeful-Martin Iosefo", ABC Fox Montana, May 21, 2015.
  10. ^ "Iosefo Rejoins Eagles 7s Team", Goff Rugby Report, April 23, 2015.
  11. ^ "Iosefo Makes Vancouver Dream Team, Hong Kong Draw", This Is American Rugby, March 15, 2016.
  12. ^ Runs
  13. ^ Clean breaks
  14. ^ Matches
  15. ^ Tackles
  16. ^ Tries