Fijian winger Paula Balekana has played in Major League Rugby since 2021. He represented the Houston SaberCats in his debut season in the competition in 2021, and the New England Free Jacks from 2022-2025.

Balekana appeared in all 16 of the SaberCats’ games in 2021, scoring 6 tries and gaining 1,232m in possession, finishing 2nd in MLR in this category, behind Utah’s Mikey Te’o. This remains Balekana’s personal best in this category, although he came close in 2023.

After moving over to the Free Jacks, his potential as a lethal try scorer was truly discovered. He scored an additional 6 tries in the 2022 MLR season before exploding with 14 tries in the 2023 regular season, tying him for Top Try Scorer in MLR with Utah’s Joe Mano. He gained over 1000m in the 2023 season and was one of the stand out offensive threats league-wide. He currently sits on 31 tries scored all-time in MLR, the 4th highest try scorer in MLR history.

Balekana became an MLR Champion as part of the NE Free Jacks squad that lifted the Shield in 2023. Balekana scored his 15th MLR try of the 2023 season in the Championship Final, having appeared in 17 games (16 starts) and racked up 1,134m gained. He was the only non-kicker to appear in the Top 10 Points Scorer list in 2023, finishing 9th with 75pts from his 15 tries and finished as the Top Try Scorer of the 2023 season.

Balekana was named on Hawke’s Bay’s roster for their 2023 NPC season, which marked the Fijian’s first season in the NPC, but returned to the Free Jacks for the 2024 Title Defense, scoring 4 tries in 12 games (all starts) as the Free Jacks qualified for the playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference and a 11-5 record. Balekana started all 3 playoff games for New England in 2024 as they defeated Old Glory DC and the Chicago Hounds to earn a spot in the MLR Championship Game and the chance to lift back-to-back Shields. With a 11-20 victory, Balekana and the Free Jacks became 2-time MLR Champions and, also for a second season in a row, Balekana was named to the All-MLR Honorable Mention XV.

On November 21st, 2024, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Paula Balekana alongside Cole Keith, Ethan Fryer, and Conor Keys.

Achievements

• 2024 MLR Champion – New England Free Jacks
• 2024 All-MLR Honorable Mention XV
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 10
• 2023 MLR Champion – New England Free Jacks
• 2023 All-MLR Honorable Mention XV
• 1st in MLR Try Scoring: 2023 (15)
• 9th in MLR Scoring: 2023 (75pts)
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 11
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 10
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 5
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 4
• 2nd in MLR Meters Gained: 2021 (1,232m)