New Zealand winger Tomas Aoake played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2026, representing the San Diego Legion for his entire MLR career.

Aoake’s signing was announced by the San Diego Legion in January 2022, ahead of the MLR season for that year. He joined from North Harbour in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship competition, with whom he had played since 2019. Aoake’s debut season in North America saw him scoring 4 tries in 10 games (all starts) for the Legion, earning a surprise playoff berth following the disqualification of the LA & Austin franchises. Aoake followed up a solid debut MLR season with a spectacular 2023 season. He scored 9 tries in 13 regular season games (all starts) for the Legion, tied for 5th in MLR in 2023, racking up 1,160m gained in possession (10th in MLR) as the Legion finished the regular season with a MLR-record 15-1 standing. Aoake added 2 more tries in as many games in the playoffs as the San Diego Legion advanced all the way to the Championship Final, falling 24-25 to the New England Free Jacks. Aoake and wing-partner Nate Augspurger provided the Legion with an incredible offensive ‘double punch’ on the edge that delivered 18 tries for the Legion in the regular season, and another 4 during the playoffs for 11 each, placing them both T-4th in MLR Try Scoring that season.

On 12th October 2023, the San Diego Legion announced that they had signed Tomas Aoake to a 3 year contract extension that would keep the then-28yo in California through the 2026 MLR season. In the first year of that new contract, Aoake scored another 2 tries in 11 games (all starts) as the Legion again qualified for the post-season, falling to their rivals the Seattle Seawolves in the Western Conference Semifinals. On November 14th, 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Tomas Aoake for the 2025 season.

Achievements

• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 2
• 2023 MLR Runner-Up: San Diego Legion
• T-4th in MLR Tries Scored: 2023 (11)
• 10th in MLR Meters Gained: 2023 (1,160m)
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 16
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 11
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 4