New Zealand centre/wing Fa’asiu Fuatai played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2024. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers for his entire MLR career.

The Auckland native attended the University of Otago between 2012-2016, graduating with a Bachelor of Law while also playing both junior and senior age grade rugby. He played with the Otago U20s as well as the New Zealand U20s at the 2013 Junior World Cup. He played with the Otago ITM Cup/Mitre 10 Cup (now the NPC) team between 2013-2016, before moving to France to play with the Bordeaux Bégles in the Top 14 and Challenge Cup between 2017-2019. While in France he also played at a pair of HSBC World Sevens Series Tournaments for New Zealand in 2017. Following this stint in France he returned to New Zealand, joining Bay of Plenty where he played in the Mitre 10 Cup / NPC from 2018-2023.

Rugby United New York announced the addition of Fuatai ahead of the 2021 MLR season, and he earned 15 appearances (14 starts) with the Roosters, scoring 2 tries. Fuatai appeared in all 18 New York games in his sophomore MLR season as Rugby New York advanced to the MLR Championship Final, defeating the Seattle Seawolves 30-15 to become the first team in the East to life the Shield and conclude a dramatic playoffs. He had gained a PB 1,350m with ball in hand, finishing 7th in MLR in that stat and completed 152 tackles, another PB. Fuatai also appeared in every New York game the following season, taking his total MLR appearances to a round 50 (47 starts), scoring 9 tries including 5 in 2023 and carrying for just over 3,000m gained.

Following news that the Ironworkers would not compete in the 2024 season due to financial difficulties, Fuatai returned to the Southern Hemisphere, and earned his debut playing with the famous Randwick Galloping Green in Australia’s Shute Shield competition.

achievements

• 2022 MLR Champion: Rugby New York
• 7th in MLR Meters Gained: 2022 (1,350m)