Paki Afu

Pakisonasi Afu (born 7 September 1990) is a professional rugby footballer who has represented Tonga in rugby league and Tonga A in rugby union. He is contracted to Austin Elite Rugby to play Major League Rugby in the United States. Afu previously played rugby league in the NSW Cup for New Zealand Warriors and Wyong Roos as a prop. His usual position in rugby union is centre.

Early life

Pakisonasi Afu was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He played rugby league as an Otahuhu Leopards junior before moving to Australia in 2008.

Playing career

Rugby league

Afu played for the Canterbury Bulldogs in the Toyota Cup between 2008 and 2010. He was a Tongan international in 2009, and in 2010 he was named in the Junior Kiwis squad.

He signed with the Parramatta Eels for 2011 and played for the Wentworthville Magpies in the Bundaberg Red Cup. Following this, Afu went on a Mormon mission to the Philippines.

In 2014, he returned to New Zealand and the Otahuhu Leopards, playing in the Auckland Rugby League competition. In 2015, after moving to the Point Chevalier Pirates, he was selected for Auckland and also played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NSW Cup. Later that year he was signed by the Sydney Roosters.

He played for the Wyong Roos, the Roosters' reserve side, in the NSW Cup in 2016.

Rugby union

Afu switched codes to rugby union in 2017, representing  Tonga A in the Pacific Challenge tournament where he scored two tries against  Junior Japan, and in the Americas Pacific Challenge, scoring two tries against  Canada A.

He signed with Austin Elite Rugby to play in the 2018 inaugural season of Major League Rugby in the United States.