Sofai Maka
| Date of birth | 2 May 2001[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | De La Salle College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sofai Maka (born 2 May 2001) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who plays for the New Zealand national rugby sevens team.
Early life
[edit]He attended De La Salle College and played for Blues U20.[3][4]
Club career
[edit]He appeared in the National Provincial Championship playing for Auckland in 2022 prior to making the move to North Harbour.[5] He scored seven tries for Northern Harbour side in the 2024 NPC.[6]
International career
[edit]In November 2024 he was called-up to the New Zealand national rugby union sevens team for the Dubai Sevens and South Africa Sevens legs of the 2024–25 SVNS series.[7] He took the number 81 jersey in honour of his school address (De La Salle College 81 Gray Avenue, Auckland).[8] He scored his first tries with a brace in a quarter finals win over South Africa at the Dubai Sevens.[9]
Style of play
[edit]All Blacks Sevens coach Tomasi Cama described him as having "the potential to become a great sevens player…he makes a lot of line breaks, scores a lot of tries; he understands the game well".[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Sofai Maka". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "Sofai Maka". All.Rugby. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "New look to All Blacks Sevens squad". Otago Daily Times. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ Fruean, Herschel (April 9, 2018). "Pre Season Players that are Killing It". hstop200.com. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ Morton, Finn (20 November 2024). "Waikato's backrow-wing utility headlines All Blacks Sevens squad". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ Lee, Henry (3 December 2024). "All Blacks Sevens' Dubai 7's ratings: Kiwis limp into semi-finals". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
- ^ Pearson, Joseph (Nov 21, 2024). "In-demand Oli Mathis called up to All Blacks Sevens squad after breakout NPC season". Stuff.nz. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ Julian, Adam (30 November 2024). "Sofai Maka set to take SVNS by storm after flying NPC season". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ Morton, Finn (1 December 2024). "All Blacks Sevens end Blitzboks' incredible reign as Dubai champions". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "Rising star Mathis called into All Blacks Sevens". rnz.co.nz. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.