Sosefo Apikotoa rugby player
Sosefo Apikotoa rugby player

Sosefo Apikotoa

18th Jul 1996 1.93m/125kg Tighthead Prop

Sosefo Apikotoa is a product of St Patrick's College in Silverstream, New Zealand. He played for his school's 1st XV team in the Wellington Premiership 1st XV competition in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

After his return from a brief league stint in Australia, 'Apikotoa played for Hutt Old Boys-Marist in the Wellington Premier club rugby competition

He was part of the Wellington U19 team that finished fifth at the Jock Hobbs Memorial National U19 tournament in 2015.

In 2012 and 2013, 'Apikotoa played for the Wellington Orcas U17 team. He was named the Wellington Orcas 17s Player of the Year and Junior Player of the Year in 2013.[7] A year later, he played for the premier Wellington Orcas squad.

While still at school, he signed a 2-year contract with Melbourne Storm (starting in November 2014), but in December 2014 he already returned home to New Zealand and from then on focused on playing rugby.

In 2017, 'Apikotoa was selected in the Hurricanes squad for the inaugural Brisbane Global Rugby Tens.

In search for more game time, he moved to Hawke's Bay the following year and was named in the Magpies squad for the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup season.

In 2019, 'Apikotoa played a preseason game for the Highlanders, but it didn't result in a further call-up by the franchise.

After a successful 2020 season with the Magpies, while not named in the initial Chiefs' squad for the 2021 Super Rugby season, 'Apikotoa was signed by the franchise as an injury replacement. He made his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs on 20 March 2021 against the Hurricanes and played 5 games for the side, that year.

On 9 November 2021, Moana Pasifika announced that the new franchise had signed 'Apikotoa for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.[2] On 4 March 2022, he made his debut for the new franchise – off the bench – in their inaugural Super Rugby game against the Crusaders.

He scored his first Super Rugby try in Moana Pasifika's second game of the season, against the Chiefs, on 19 March 2022.

Ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023, Apikotoa has been named in the training squad for Tonga.

S.C June 2023

Career

275213_100002908945441_1598230740_n Tonga
Tighthead Prop
2022 - 2023
Moana Pasifika Rugby Logo Moana Pasifika Rugby
Tighthead Prop
2023 - 2023