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Viliami Maʻasi

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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  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.