Nathan Vella

Nathan Vella

Date of birth	(1990-02-10) 10 February 1990
Place of birth	Henderson, New Zealand
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	106 kg (16 st 10 lb)
School	Auckland Grammar School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker Current team Template:Rut Canterbury Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2011−13 Template:Rut Auckland 14 (5) 2013−15 London Welsh 24 (10) 2015−16 Bedford Blues 2 (0) 2016− Template:Rut Canterbury 9 (20) Correct as of 23 November 2016

Nathan Vella (born 10 February 1990) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a hooker for Template:Rut Canterbury in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup.

Youth Career

Born and raised in Auckland, Vella attended Auckland Grammar School in the city and played first XV rugby with them for 3 years, captaining the side in 2008. During this time, he made his way through the age group levels with his local provincial side, Template:Rut Auckland.

Senior Career

Vella started his senior career with his local side, Auckland, making 14 appearances for them across 3 seasons from 2011 to 2013. He then moved to the UK to try his luck, initially with London Welsh who he helped win promotion to the English Premiership in 2014. Latterly he had a short stint with RFU Championship side, the Bedford Blues before returning to New Zealand in 2016.

After a short spell providing injury cover for Super Rugby franchise, the Template:Rut Crusaders at the beginning of 2016, he was named in their main feeder union, Template:Rut Canterbury's squad for the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup. He made 9 appearances, 7 of which were as a replacement for regular starter Ben Funnell and scored an impressive 4 tries which helped Canterbury lift that year's Mitre 10 Cup Premiership, their 8th success in 9 seasons.