Leicester Fainga'anuku rugby player
Leicester Fainga'anuku rugby player

Leicester Fainga'anuku

11th Oct 1999 1.88m/109kg Left Wing

Leicester Fainga'anuku was born on August 7, 1999, in Tonga. A star on the rise, the blockbusting outside back is a former Nelson College First XV product, who won the Phillip McDonald Memorial Medal for the UC Championship’s MVP in 2017.

Fainga'anuku moved to New Zealand at a young age, he has since represented NZ Secondary Schools’, Junior Knights, Crusaders Knights and the NZ Under 20 side, He made his provincial debut for Tasman in 2018 and was quickly identified as a promising young talent.

Faingaanuku made his provincial debut for the Tasman Mako against Otago in 2018 and joined the Crusaders as one of five new players in 2019.

In 2019, Fainga'anuku was signed by the Crusaders and made his Super Rugby debut in a match against the Highlanders. He quickly made an impact, scoring two tries in his first two matches for the team. Ahead of the 2020 Super Rugby season, Fainga'anuku has been named again for the Crusaders squad.

At 188 cm tall and 109 kg, he’s a versatile back who can play both midfield and wing and was a key part of the Tasman Mako team that went back-to-back in the 2019 and 2020 NPC Premiership. He tasted more success with the championship winning Crusaders side in the 2022 DHL Super Rugby Pacific season.

Fainga'anuku made his Test debut against Ireland at Eden Park on July 2, 2022.

Ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023, Fainga'anuku has been named in the squad for New Zealand.

S.C march 2023







Career

TRU Tasman Mako
Left Wing
2019 - present
New Zealand New Zealand
Left Wing
2022 - present
toulon_rugby_logo RC Toulon
Left Wing
2023 - present
nz New Zealand U20's
Left Wing
2018 - 2022
1.ANGUS BELL 2. ROBBIE ABEL 3. HARRY JOHNSON-HOLMES 4. NED HANIG South Island
Left Wing
2020 - 2022
1e0a87f9f50f705d091ce86c884d79ff All Black XV
Left Wing
2022 - 2023
Nelson College logo Nelson College
Left Wing
Untitled design (11) Crusaders
Left Wing
2019 - 2023