Born in American Samoa and raised in Samoa, Pagopagohokma Taeaomua ‘Pago’ Haini, played in Major League Rugby between 2018-2024. He represented the Houston SaberCats (2018), the New England Free Jacks (2019-2020), the LA Giltinis (2021), the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2022-2023), and the Seattle Seawolves (2024).

Haini played with the Samoa U19 side in 2010, and the Wellington U20s in New Zealand in 2011. Born on American Samoa and so US-Eligible, Haini represented the USA at the Wellington Sevens in 2017 and played at the HSBC Sevens Series in Sydney. Haini signed with the Houston SaberCats ahead of MLR’s inaugural season in 2018, earning 4 caps from the bench. He moved to the New England Free Jacks for their exhibition season in 2019, and was signed with them for their inaugural season in 2020, but did not make an appearance before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the season after only 5 rounds. Haini signed with the LA Giltinis prior to the 2021 season, and earned a career best 13 appearances for LA, including his first 5 MLR starts, as the Giltinis advanced to the MLR Championship Final, defeating Rugby ATL 31-17 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Haini signed with Rugby New York ahead of the 2022 season, and earned 3 appearanced before injury forced him to the sidelines, during which time he featured as a sideline reporter for New York home games. That season, NY advanced to the MLR Championship Final and defeated the Seattle Seawolves 30-15 in New York, giving Haini his 2nd Championship in as many seasons. He returned for the Ironworkers in 2023, earning an additional 8 caps (7 starts) and racking up over 370m gained with ball in hand. Through 5 seasons in MLR (not counting the Free Jacks’ exhibition season), Haini  earned 28 MLR caps (14 starts) and scored 5 tries.

Following the announcement in early December 2023 that the Rugby New York Ironworkers would not compete in the 2024 season due to financial difficulties, Haini opted in to the Dispersal Draft for NY and Toronto players (the Arrows had announced a week prior to NY that they would also not be competing in the 2024 season) and was selected 20th overall by the Seattle Seawolves. His signing was then confirmed by Seattle on 16th December 2023, ahead of the 2024 season. Haini scored 1 try in 8 games for the Seawolves (7 starts), racking up a PB 371m gained as the Seawolves advanced through the San Diego Legion and Dallas Jackals on their way to their 4th (and Haini’s 3rd) MLR Championship game,  where Haini came off the bench in a 11-20 defeat to the New England Free Jacks.

achievements

• 2024 MLR Runner-Up: Seattle Seawolves
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6
• 2022 MLR Champion: Rugby New York
• MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 4
• 2021 MLR Champion: LA Giltinis