Former All-Blacks 7s player Beaudein Waaka Played in Major League Rugby between 2020-2023. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

Waaka was a near-unanimous choice for league MVP in 2022 following his switch from full-back to fly-half, and finished as the 2nd highest MLR points scorer with 151 (135 regular season), behind only Seattle Seawolves fly-half, AJ Alatimu.

2022 was Waaka’s 2nd 100+ pt season, finishing with 105 in 2021 (4th overall). He was the New England Franchise leader for Points Scored (270), Playoff Points Scored (16), Penalties Scored (27), and Conversions Scored (65) until Jayson Potroz surpassed him in 2024. Additionally, at the conclusion of the 2022 season he was part of a 3-way tie for 2nd highest try scorer for the Free Jacks, on 11 along with John Poland & Dougie Fife. Waaka’s overall kicking success rate in MLR is 73.98% (92/125).

On July 1st, 2022, it was announced that Waaka would be joining the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan. With his contract in Japan expiring at the end of April 2023, Waaka re-committed to the New England Free Jacks through the 2025 MLR season and re-joined the Free Jacks ahead of their 2023 Championship Series campaign, lifting the shield as MLR Champions after defeating the San Diego Legion 24-25 in Chicago. On May 31st 2023, Manawatu announced that they had signed Waaka for the 2023 & 2024 Bunnings NPC seasons. Despite signing a contract with the Free Jacks through the 2025 season, Waaka joined the Mazda Skyactivs Hiroshima in Japan’s League One Division Three which rules him out for the majority of the 2024 MLR season, although he could return for a playoff push.

Achievements:

• 2023 MLR Champion: New England Free Jacks
• All-MLR 1st XV: 2022 (New England Free Jacks)
• 2022 MLR Player of the Year
• 2nd in MLR Scoring: 2022 (151)
• 2022 Team of the Week – Round 1
• 2022 Team of the Week – Round 3
• 2022 Team of the Week – Round 5
• 2022 Team of the Week – Round 12
• 2020 Team of the Week – Round 1
• 4th in MLR Scoring: 2021 (105)
• 2021 Team of the Week – Round 16