Shalom Suniula (born June 5, 1988) is a former rugby league and rugby union player, who played for the

Seattle Seawolves The Seattle Seawolves are an American professional rugby union team based in Tukwila, Washington. The team was founded in 2017 and competes in Major League Rugby (MLR), the top-level rugby union competition in the United States that began play ...

Major League Rugby Major League Rugby (MLR or USMLR) is a professional rugby union competition and the top-level championship for clubs in North America. In the 2022 season it was contested by thirteen teams: twelve from the United States and one from Canada. Off ...

(MLR), and for the

United States national rugby sevens team The United States national rugby sevens team competes in international rugby sevens competitions. The national sevens team is organized by USA Rugby, and the team has been led by Head Coach Mike Friday since 2014. The main competition the team ...

. He played rugby union for the United States Eagles XV's, USA Sevens, and at club level for Belmont Shore RFC, as a scrum-half or fly-half. His brothers Andrew and

Roland Suniula Roland Suniula (born December 17, 1986) is an American international rugby union player who plays for the Austin Elite as a centre in Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played for the Seattle Seawolves in the MLR and the Ohio Aviators as ...

also played rugby for the U.S. Suniula previously played representative level rugby league for the New Zealand Junior Kiwis national rugby league team, and at club level for Souths Logan Magpies. Suniula was a talented play maker who was known for his dangerous side step. On August 5, 2021, he confirmed his retirement to a decorated rugby career at the age of 33 after winning international honors for the US and two Major League Rugby titles. He joined older brothers Andrew and Roland in retirement.

Early life

Born in American Samoa, Suniula migrated to New Zealand at a young age, and attended

Kelston Boys' High School Kelston Boys' High School ("KBHS") (Te kura tuarua o nga tamatane o kerehana) is an all-boys state secondary school in Kelston, a suburb in the Waitakere region of Auckland, New Zealand. It was created in 1963 when the roll of Kelston High Scho ...

in Auckland. In 2004 he was selected for the New Zealand Junior Kiwis national rugby league team. and also played for Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup.

U.S. national team

During his career, Suniula was among the leading American rugby sevens players on the World Rugby Sevens Series circuit in several major statistical categories, including appearances, points scored and goals kicked. For the 2011-12 IRB Sevens World Series, Suniula was captain of the team. Suniula made his debut for the

at the NAWIRA RWC 7s Qualifier in fall 2008, and became a regular for the US during the 2008-09 IRB Sevens World Series. Suniula played for the US at the

2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens The 2009 Rugby Sevens World Cup was the fifth edition of the Rugby World Cup Sevens. The International Rugby Board (IRB) selected Dubai in the United Arab Emirates as the host venue for the tournament ahead of bids from four other countries. The f ...

. Suniula was the only US player to participate in every tournament during the 2009-10 IRB Sevens World Series tournament. Suniula also represented the

United States at the 2011 Pan American Games The United States competed at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, from October 14 to October 30, 2011. The chef de mission for the United States for these Pan American Games was Alan Ashley, the United States Olympic Committee, U ...

, where Suniula and his teammates earned a bronze medal.

Other Achievements

Suniula played his club rugby for

Belmont Shore Belmont Shore is a Neighborhoods of Long Beach, California, neighborhood in Long Beach, California. It is home to many shops, restaurants, salons and business offices. Geography Livingston Drive and 2nd Street form the heart of Belmont Shore, f ...

, and was named MVP as Belmont Shore won the USA Rugby Men's Club Sevens Championship in 2011.RugbyRugby, "Berkeley & Belmont Reign Supreme at Club Sevens," August 8, 2011,

Personal life

Suniula married his wife in 2012. Suniula is a

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

. Suniula has spoken about his faith saying, “God has blessed me with talent, and God’s Word asks us what we are going to do with the talents He gives us. Rugby has given me a position of influence to be able to help mold and change kids’ and adults’ lives as I coach and partner with rugby players. With this level of influence comes a certain level of responsibility as well. I want to use my position to show Christ's love — to care for people as He cares for us all.” Shalom Suniula is the brother of

Andrew Suniula Andrew Suniula (born 1 May 1982) is a former rugby football player who played rugby union as a center (rugby union), centre for the United States national rugby union team, United States national team (USA Eagles XV's). He last played for the A ...

and

, who are both also rugby players who have played for the United States national teams.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Suniula, Shalom 1988 births American Samoan emigrants to New Zealand American Samoan rugby league players American Samoan rugby union players Junior Kiwis players Living people New Zealand rugby league players Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States Pan American Games medalists in rugby sevens People educated at Kelston Boys' High School American people of Samoan descent Seattle Seawolves players Souths Logan Magpies players United States international rugby sevens players United States international rugby union players Rugby sevens players at the 2011 Pan American Games Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games Rugby union scrum-halves Rugby union fly-halves Rugby union centres