SamoaSamoan Fly-half AJ Alatimu played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2025. He represented the Seattle Seawolves (2021-2023) and the Houston SaberCats (2024-2025).
Born in Samoa, Alatimu has played much of his rugby in Australia, winning the 2016 National Rugby Championship with Perth Spirit before joining Brisbane City for 2017, and the Western Force between 2018-2020. At international level, Alatimu has represented the Samoa U20 side between 2012-2013, and made his full test debut for Samoa against Scotland in November of 2017. He represented his nation at the 2019 Pacific Nations Cup as well as the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Alatimu joined the Seawolves ahead of the 2021 season from Western Force, who had been competing in the NRC and Global Rapid Rugby competitions (they rejoined Super Rugby in 2021). He quickly established himself as a lethal goal kicker, and to date he still maintains an 80% accuracy rating from the tee across all his MLR games. He has scored over 100pts in 2 of his 3 MLR seasons including 2023 when he shared the 10 jersey with a very impressive Jordan Chait, and finished 4th in MLR with an even 100pts. At the conclusion of the 2023 MLR season, Alatimu is the highest scoring player in Seawolves history, having scored 321pts for the club. He is one of only 5 players to have scored over 300pts in the competition, and currently sits 4th on the all-time MLR points scorers list. In addition to this, he is also MLR’s all-time leading playoff point scorer, with 55pts in Championship Series games.
On 17th July, 2023, Counties Manukau announced Alatimu as part of their roster for the 2023 NPC competition in New Zealand. This competition is popular among MLR players as there is no crossover, allowing many to play professional rugby year-round. In September 2023, the Seattle Seawolves announced a trade with the Houston SaberCats that sent Alatimu to Texas in exchange for USA Eagle Joe Taufete’e. Alatimu returned to MLR with the SaberCats for the 2024 season, earning his 50th MLR cap and scoring 78pts while splitting kicking duties with Davy Coetzer as the SaberCats recorded their best season to date, securing their spot in the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year and finishing the regular season with a record of 14-2, the top team in MLR for the regular season.
On November 13th, 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of AJ Alatimu for his 5th season in MLR in 2025.
Achievements
- 5th in MLR Scoring: 2024 (85pts)
- All-Time Leading MLR Playoff Point Scorer (62)
- Seattle Seawolves All-Time Leading Points Scorer (321)
- 4th in MLR Scoring: 2023 (100pts)
- 1st in MLR Scoring: 2022 (166pts)
- 2022 MLR Runner-Up – Seattle Seawolves
- MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Week 17
- MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Week 8