Atlanta Lolohea

Atlanta Lolohea
Date of birth (2003-04-16) 16 April 2003 (age 21)
Height160 cm (5 ft 3 in)
Notable relative(s)Martha Mataele (sister)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022–Present Canterbury 13 (10)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023–Present Matatū 8 (0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2024  New Zealand 1 (5)

Atlanta Lolohea (born 16 April 2003) is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for Matatū in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.

Rugby career

Lolohea attended Villa Maria College in Christchurch and began playing rugby in Year 11 when she was 16.[1][2] She made her Farah Palmer Cup debut for Canterbury against Wellington in 2022 and was awarded most promising FPC player of the year alongside Hannah King.[1]

She is the younger sister of Matatū teammate, Martha Mataele. They were both part of Matatū's championship side for the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season, with Mataele debuting for the Black Ferns later that year.[1] She also played for the Western Force in the 2023 Super W season.[3][4]

In 2023, She played for the Black Ferns XV against the Manusina XV in September and was later called into the Black Ferns as injury cover during the final week of the WXV1 tournament in New Zealand.[1]

Lolohea secured her first full-time Black Ferns contract in April 2024.[5][6] She made her Black Ferns debut against Australia on 14 July in the second test of the Laurie O'Reilly Cup.[7][8] She scored a try on her debut as her side hammered the Wallaroos 62–0.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Julian, Adam (30 June 2024). "Atlanta thinking big for the Black Ferns". Newsroom. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Canterbury FPC: PREVIEW 2020". Provincial Rugby. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Five major signings increase Super W stocks". westernforce.rugby. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  4. ^ Mauafu, Neueli (8 March 2023). "Lolohea and Laqeretabua sign with Western Force". TP+. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Talent aplenty in 2024 contracted Black Ferns group". NZ Rugby. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Ex-All Black Joseph's daughter one of five new players to earn fulltime Black Ferns contract". Newshub. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b Julian, Adam (14 July 2024). "Black Ferns soar with Vaha'akolo's quartet of tries at Ballymore". allblacks.com. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b Grey, Lachlan; Williamson, Nathan (14 July 2024). "Vaha'akolo stars as Black Ferns power their way to win over Wallaroos". wallaroos.rugby. Retrieved 17 July 2024.