California native Tavite ‘Pite’ Lopeti played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2025. He represented the Seattle Seawolves (2022-2024), and the San Diego Legion (2025).

Born and raised in the Bay Area and of Tongan heritage, Lopeti played basketball and football through high school graduating in 2016, the same year that he represented the USA U19s against Canada. Lopeti attented St. Mary’s College in California and played with the Gaels during his time there, being included on the Collegiate All-American 1st team in 2019, as well as being nominated for the Rudy Scholz Award recognising the best college rugby player in the country. In 2021 he attended a USA u23 High-Performance Camp where Lopeti clearly impressed as it led to his international test debut for the USA Eagles in September 2021, where he scored a try as the Eagles fell 34-21 to Canada in Newfoundland. Through the 2024 July tests, he has earned 12 caps for the USA.

Lopeti declared for the 2021 MLR Collegiate Draft, and was selected 3rd overall by the Seattle Seawolves just prior to making his International debut. He made his MLR debut in the 2022 season where he scored 5 tries in 17 games (15 starts) and carried for just under 1,000m with ball in hand as the Seawolves advanced to the Championship Final before falling 30-15 to Rugby New York in New York. For his efforts in his rookie season, Lopeti was named as MLR Rookie of the Year for 2022. Lopeti has represented the Seattle Seawolves for 3 MLR seasons, scoring 8 tries in 44 games (32 starts). He has already featured in 2 MLR finals for the Seawolves, in 2022 & 2024, unfortunately the Seawolves did not come away with the Shield on those occasions.

On November 13th, 2024, the San Diego Legion announced that they had signed Tavite Lopeti for the upcoming 2025 season in a big move. It is unclear whether Lopeti signed with the Legion as a free agent, or if there was a trade between the two Western Conference sides.

achievements

• 2024 MLR Runner-Up: Seattle Seawolves
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 1
• 2022 MLR Runner-Up: Seattle Seawolves
• 2022 MLR Rookie of the Year
• MLR Draftee: 3rd Overall 2021 – Seattle Seawolves (St. Mary’s College)