Viliami Maʻasi

Viliami Ma'asi
Date of birth (1975-07-31) 31 July 1975 (age 49) [1]
Place of birthTonga
Height184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight105 kg (16 st 7 lb) [2]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2001-2007
2007-2010
2010-2012
2012-2016		 Cornish Pirates
Leeds Carnegie
London Welsh
Ampthill		 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1997–2009 Tonga 36 (15)

Viliami Maʻasi (born 31 July 1975)[3] is a Tongan former Rugby Union international player. He represented Tonga at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Early life

The fourth of seven boys, Ma'asi grew up just outside the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa. He trained as a health officer on the main island, and was posted in Neiafu. He moved to England to play rugby union in 2001 and signed for Cornish Pirates.[4]

Playing career

He won 36 caps for Tonga and played at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.[5] He played as a hooker, and played club rugby in Britain for Cornish Pirates until 2007 when he signed for Leeds Carnegie.[6] He also played for London Welsh prior to his release in 2012.[7][8] He was laterly club captain at Ampthill, before retiring aged 41 years-old in 2016, after making 195 appearances in total in English league rugby.[9][10]

Coaching career

In 2017, he began coaching the Peterborough Lions.[11] With the club he won promotion from Regional 1 Midlands to National League 2 North in 2018.[12][13]

Personal life

His son Rekeiti Ma'asi-White plays for Sale Sharks in the Rugby Premiership. Another son, Samson, captained England at U18 level had to give up the game after requiring a kidney transplant from Ma'asi.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ "V.Ma'asi". ESPN. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  2. ^ "V.Ma'asi". Its Rugby. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  3. ^ "V.Ma'asi". ESPN. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Vili Ma'asi". The Rugby Journal. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  5. ^ Jaycock, Ben (15 February 2024). "YOUNG GUNS: REKEITI MA'ASI-WHITE". The Rugby Paper.
  6. ^ Bolton, Paul (16 April 2007). "Ma'asi leads Cornish charge as Pirates overhaul Exeter". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  7. ^ Curtis, Tony. "London Welsh preview 2012/13". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  8. ^ Thomas, Claire. "Tongan heart, English soul, Rekeiti Ma'asi-White aims for Test stardom". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Club Captain Viliami Ma'asi Retires". Ampthillrufc. December 14, 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  10. ^ Byrom, David (24 August 2017). "Exeter Chiefs hand trial to England youth international Suva Ma'asi". Devon Live. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Viliami Ma'asi new coach of Peterborough Lions". Matangitonga.to. August 22, 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  12. ^ Swan, Alan (5 June 2020). "Positive Peterborough Lions boss says his club will bounce back as things improve on and off the pitch". Peterborough Today. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Moyle confident Ma'asi factor will entice new talent". The Rugby Paper. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  14. ^ Thomas, Claire. "Tongan heart, English soul, Rekeiti Ma'asi-White aims for Test stardom". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  15. ^ Schofield, Daniel (11 December 2019). "'He needs my kidney more than me': Vili Ma'asi and the incredible sacrifice made to save his son's health and career". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 February 2024.