Australian born Samoan fly-half Rodney Esekia Iona played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the NOLA Gold (2023-2024) and the Seattle Seawolves (2025).

Iona played rugby all through high school and played with the Tuggeranong Vikings between 2011-2016, while also a member of the Brumbies Academy system, with whom he won the World Club Sevens Championship and attended the World Club Tens in 2013. Iona earned 15 appearances with the Canberra Vikings in Australia’s NRC competition, earning a Super Rugby debut for the Brumbies in 2014, and signing with them for the 2015 Super Rugby season. Following his time in Super Rugby, Iona headed to France to play in the Pro D2 with Béziers, earning 22 appearances but suffering a neck injury during the 2016/17 season. Upon his recovery he spent a few years in Spain with UE Santboiana in the División de Honor de Rugby. Iona then checked England off his list, spending the 2019/20 Championship season with the Jersey Reds before returning to Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, playing with the Melbourne Rising and rejoining the Brumbies.

Iona is a capped Samoan international, earning his debut against Fiji in 2018 and earning 7 caps to date.

Iona was initially signed by the Utah Warriors ahead of the 2021 MLR season, but instead opted to play with the Brumbies in Super Rugby. He finally joined MLR with the NOLA Gold ahead of the 2022 season, in which Iona scored 3 tries in 12 games (all starts), and 80 pts total to finish 7th in MLR scoring. He returned with the Gold for the 2024 season, adding another 10 appearances (also all starts) and 2 tries with 42pts total as the Gold finally qualified for the post-season on their 7th attempt. Iona started NOLA’s first ever MLR Playoff game against the Chicago Hounds, adding 6pts in a 21-45 home defeat that was a much tighter game than the scoreline may suggest.

On 7th October, the NOLA Gold announced the departure of Iona ahead of the 2025 MLR season amongst a swathe of departures. However on October 23rd, the Seattle Seawolves announced the signing of Iona for their 2025 season, where he is believed to have signed as a free agent.

achievements

• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6
• 7th in MLR Scoring: 2023 (80pts)