Apii Nicholls-Pualau

Apii Nicholls-Pualau
Personal information
Born (1993-02-26) 26 February 1993 (age 31)
Rarotonga, Cook Islands, New Zealand
Height163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Weight62 kg (9 st 11 lb)
Playing information
Rugby league
PositionFullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018–19 New Zealand Warriors 6 0 7 0 14
2022–23 Gold Coast Titans 5 0 0 0 0
2023– Canberra Raiders 8 0 0 0 0
Total 19 0 7 0 14
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2017– New Zealand 11 5 6 0 32
2019 New Zealand 9s 4 0 0 0 0
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2023 Chiefs Manawa
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Cook Islands 7s
Source: RLP
As of 1 November 2023

Apii Nicholls-Pualau (born 26 February 1993) is a New Zealand rugby league and union player. She played for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL Women's Premiership. Primarily a fullback, she is a New Zealand representative.[1][2]

In 2023, she was signed by Chiefs Manawa for the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.

Background

Born in Rarotonga, Nicolls-Paualau represented the Cook Islands rugby sevens team before switching to rugby league.[3]

Playing career

Otahuhu Leopards

In 2017, Nicholls-Paulau began playing for the Otahuhu Leopards in the Auckland Rugby League.[4] Later that year, she was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup.[5] She captained the team in a 50–4 win over Canada.[6] On 2 December 2017, she started at fullback in New Zealand's final loss to Australia.

On 11 February 2018, she was named the NZRL Women's Player of the Year.[7] On 1 August 2018, she joined the New Zealand Warriors NRL Women's Premiership team.[8] In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Warriors, kicking a goal in a 10–4 win over the Sydney Roosters.[9]

International

In October 2019, Nicholls-Pualau was a member of New Zealand's 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s-winning squad.[10]

In October 2022, she was selected for the New Zealand squad at the delayed 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup in England.[11]

Chiefs Manawa (RU)

Nicholls-Pualau was signed by Chiefs Manawa for the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season.[12][13] She rejoined the side for the 2024 season.[14][15]

Canberra Raiders

On 27 Apr 2023 it was reported that she had returned to play rugby league with Canberra Raiders Women in their inaugural season.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Kiwi Ferns name World Cup squad". Rugby League World Cup. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Kiwi Ferns name squad for Rugby League World Cup". Newshub. 13 October 2017. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Pre-game nerves no cop-out for Nicholls". NRL. 7 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Apii Nicholls". NZRL.
  5. ^ "Following Fiso no easy task". NRL. 14 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Apii Nicholls-Pualau ready to take charge of Kiwis". Ethan O'Gorman RL. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Four Vodafone Warriors honoured at NZRL awards". NZ Warriors. 11 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Vodafone Warriors unveil NRL women's premiership squad". NZ Warriors. 1 August 2018.
  9. ^ "'I wake up and just start feeling really nervous' - Nicholls". NZ Warriors. 7 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Kiwi Ferns will find out who is their fastest". NRL. 17 October 2019.
  11. ^ Priest, Craig (2 October 2022). "Kiwi Ferns name 24-strong World Cup squad". New Zealand Rugby League. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  12. ^ Birchall, Jim (16 January 2023). "League and sevens stars bolster Waitomo Chiefs Manawa". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  13. ^ "League and Sevens Stars Sign with Waitomo Chiefs Manawa". Chiefs. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Chiefs Manawa squad announced for 2024". Chiefs. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads locked in for 2024". superrugby.co.nz. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Apii Nicholls". Canberra Raiders. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.