California crossover athlete Justus Tavai played in Major league Rugby between 2025-2027. He represented Rugby FC LA (2025), the California Legion (2026), and the Seattle Seawolves (2027).

A native of Inglewood, CA, Justus Tavai grew up playing gridiron football. He played as a defensive tackle at the University of Hawai’i from 2018-2021, and San Diego State in 2022. He entered the 2023 NFL draft but went undrafted, signing with the New England Patriots as an undrafted Free Agent in 2023 joining his brother, Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai. Their other brother, J.R. Tavai, also played football through college and has been in both the NFL and CFL. Justus Tavai’s rugby journey started when he joined the American Raptors and was named on their roster for the 2024 Super Rugby Americas season. Following the demise of the Raptors, Tavai continued to play with Belmont Shore RFC in California.

Listed as a tighthead prop, Tavai signed with Rugby FC LA on 20th April, 2025. Brought in to assist in an LA front row that was down 4 props due to injury. Tavai started on the bench for LA’s Rd 11 midweek clash with the New England Free Jacks, earning his debut as a replacement. Tavai would earn 4 appearances and his first career MLR start for RFCLA during the 2025 campaign, scoring 2 tries and 12pts in total. He remained in California following the merger of RFCLA with San Diego, and was confirmed by the new team, the California Legion, on 7th February, 2026. Tavai earned 12 appearances in 2026, appearing in every game for the California Legion that season and scoring a 3rd career MLR try and setting career highs in both Metres Gained (64) and tackles made (43) to help the Legion qualify for the postseason. He came off the bench in both playoff games as the Legion advanced to the Championship final, where they fell to the Chicago Hounds.

On 21st October 2026, Justus Tavai became the first player announced for the 2027 season when the Seattle Seawolves announced that they had signed him.

NARDB Player #1,560