Michael "Mike" Zavala Harley Kainga (born 28 January 1991) is a New Zealand

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

player who last played for the

Bay of Plenty Steamers Bay of Plenty (often known as the Bay of Plenty Steamers) are a Rugby union in New Zealand, New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, union was originally established in 191 ...

in the

ITM Cup ITM may stand for: Education * ITM Global School, an English medium co-educational day school in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India * ITM Law School, one of the professional graduate schools of ITM University * ITM-IFM, Mumbai, India * Institut Tekn ...

. He signed for

Taranaki Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano of Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont. The main centre is the city of New Plymouth. The New Plymouth Dist ...

to play in the

2016 Mitre 10 Cup The 2016 Mitre 10 Cup season was the eleventh season of New Zealand's provincial rugby union competition since it turned professional in 2006. The regular season began on August 18, when North Harbour hosted Counties Manukau. It involved the ...

. His position of choice is

prop A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinct ...

. His impressive domestic performances for Bay of Plenty saw him named in the Wider Training Squad for the

2013 Super Rugby season The 2013 Super Rugby season was the third season of the new 15-team format for the Super Rugby competition involving teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The tournament was won by the Chiefs, who defeated the Canberra-based Brumb ...

. He made three appearances for the franchise. He was called into the

Hurricanes A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...

Wider Training Squad in 2016, he then gained 4 caps including playing in the 2016 Super Rugby season final. Kainga was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 side which won the

2011 IRB Junior World Championship The 2011 IRB Junior World Championship was the fourth annual international rugby union competition for Under 20 national teams, this competition replaced the now defunct under 19 and under 21 world championships. The event was organised by rugby's ...

. He played in 4 games during the tournament, 1 start and 3 substitute appearances.

Personal life

Kainga is a New Zealander of Māori descent (

Ngāti Kahungunu Ngāti Kahungunu is a Māori iwi located along the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The iwi is traditionally centred in the Hawke's Bay and Wairārapa regions. The tribe is organised into six geographical and administrative di ...

descent).

References

External links

Mike Kainga itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kainga, Mike 1991 births New Zealand rugby union players Bay of Plenty rugby union players Chiefs (rugby union) players Māori All Blacks players Rugby union props Living people Ngāti Kahungunu people Hurricanes (rugby union) players Taranaki rugby union players Rugby union players from Hawke's Bay