Liaki Moli (born 4 January 1990) is a New Zealand-born Japanese rugby union player, who specialises as a lock forward. He played for the Blues in Super Rugby from 2012 to 2014, and signed for the Japanese Sunwolves for the 2016 season. Also, he has played for

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...

in the ITM Cup since 2010. He is of

Tonga Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...

n and

Niue Niue (, ; niu, Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle between Tong ...

an descent.

Career

Early career

Moli was selected for the New Zealand U20 side in 2010, for whom he was a standout player at the world championship in Argentina. He made his

debut in the same year. He was also named the age-group player of the year for 2010 by the NZRU.

Super Rugby

A serious shoulder injury at the end of 2010 ruled Moli out of contention for a Super Rugby contract in 2011, meaning 2012 is his first season with the Blues. Moli was signed by the Japanese Sunwolves for the 2016 season.

External links

Blues player profile

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moli, Liaki 1990 births New Zealand rugby union players New Zealand sportspeople of Tongan descent New Zealand people of Niuean descent Blues (Super Rugby) players Auckland rugby union players Rugby union locks Rugby union players from Auckland Living people New Zealand expatriate rugby union players New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Japan Expatriate rugby union players in Japan People educated at St Paul's College, Auckland Sunwolves players Hino Red Dolphins players Yokohama Canon Eagles players