Sean Wainui

Sean Wainui (born 23 October 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays in the centre (and occasionally wing) position for provincial side Taranaki, the Chiefs in Super Rugby, and for New Zealand's Māori international side the Māori All Blacks.

Early life

Wainui was a member of the Takapuna Grammar School 1st XV in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He was awarded North Harbour's 2013 Māori Colts Senior Player of the Year whilst still in school. Also an ex Takapuna Grammar Prefect and 1st XV Captain, Wainui represented New Zealand on the world stage after playing for the Champion New Zealand team in the Under 20 Rugby World Cup in Italy. The team played England for the title, winning 21–16.

Domestic career

Taranaki

Upon leaving school, Wainui was contracted by the Taranaki Rugby Football Union. In his first year out of school he was a part of Taranaki's 2014 national provincial championship squad. He was spotted by coach Colin Cooper and had signed with Taranaki at just 18-years-old after an impressive season, not only for his New Plymouth Old Boys club but for the Chiefs development side also. Wainui made his debut for Taranaki in the 2014 ITM Cup competition, coming on as a replacement against Waikato.

Wainui assured to impress in 2015, and his performance didn't go unnoticed by the national media or the Super Rugby coaches. He recorded nine appearances and scored three tries for the province.

Crusaders

In 2015 he was signed by the Super Rugby franchise the Crusaders after impressing in the centre and wing position for Taranaki. Wainui made his debut for the Crusaders in round one of the 2016 Super Rugby competition, starting in the outside centre position against the Chiefs.

International career

Māori All Blacks

Although the then 19-year-old Wainui had only played several matches for Taranaki, Colin Cooper, the Māori All Blacks coach, selected him for the 2015 tour to Fiji, playing against the national side, and ending against the specially made New Zealand Barbarians.