Atieli Pakalani rugby player
Atieli Pakalani rugby player

Atieli Pakalani

2nd Aug 1989 1.83m/88kg Left Wing

Pakalani grew up in Ha'ateiho in Tonga. His usual position is left wing but he is also capable of playing full-back as he has done previously.

Nicknamed the 'Tongan Hit-man', he went to secondary school in Tamaki College in New Zealand.

A former captain of Tonga Under-20s and a member of Australia’s Sevens programme during 2014, Pakalani won his first Test caps with Tonga against Pacific rivals Fiji and Samoa in the summer of 2017.

He joined ITM team Auckland on a 2 year contract in 2009 before moving to the New South Wales Waratahs in 2011 until 2013. He captained the Tongan u20's in the 2009 Junior World Championship and he now plays for both the Tongan Senior team.

He played 7's for Australia in 2014 and 2015 and now hes playing at club level for the Western Sydney Rams.

In September 2017, Leicester Tigers confirmed the signing of Pakalani for the 2017-18 season.

The 25-year-old Pakalani can play at full-back and wing, and arrives in Leicester after previous experience with Auckland in New Zealand and in Super Rugby with the Waratahs, making his debut there as a teenager in 2011.

(Sept 17)

Career

image Greater Sydney Rams
Right Wing
2014 - present
image Tonga 7's
Left Wing
2019 - present
waratahs NSW Waratahs
Left Wing
2011 - 2013
australia Australia 7's
Outside Centre
2014 - 2015
leicester Leicester Tigers
Right Wing
2017 - 2018
image NSW Country Eagles
Left Wing
2018 - 2019
275213_100002908945441_1598230740_n Tonga
Fullback