Full name | Seilala J. Mapusua | ||||||||||||
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Date of birth | February 27, 1980 | ||||||||||||
Place of birth | Whakatane, New Zealand | ||||||||||||
Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||
Weight | 106 kg (16 st 10 lb; 234 lb) | ||||||||||||
School | Wesley College | ||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||
Playing career | |||||||||||||
Position | Centre | ||||||||||||
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Professional / senior clubs | |||
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Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
1998 2000–2006 2006–2011 2011–2014 2014–2016 |
Counties Manukau Otago London Irish Kubota Spears Kamaishi Seawaves |
1 68 126 |
(60) (105) |
Super Rugby | |||
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Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
2002–2006 | Highlanders | 51 | (25) |
National team(s) | |||
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Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
2004–2008 2006–2013 |
Pacific Islanders Samoa |
7 26 |
(5) (5) |
Seilala Mapusua (born 27 February 1980 in Whakatane, New Zealand is a New Zealand-born Samoan rugby player currently playing with the Kubota Spears of the Japanese Top League. Prior to his move to Japan in 2011, he also had long stints with the Highlanders in Super Rugby and London Irish in the Aviva Premiership.
Mapusua grew up in Wellington, New Zealand and attended school at Wesley College in Auckland moving south to join Otago for the 2000 provincial season. His strong performances for Otago saw him earn a contract with the Highlanders for the 2002 Super 12 season and he remained a fixture for both Otago and the Highlanders through 2006. By the time he left New Zealand he was only the fifth back to have played more than 50 games for the Highlanders.
Mapusua joined London Irish for the 2006–07 Guinness Premiership, and immediately established himself as a top player for the side, scoring 4 tries in 22 matches. He was named the team's top newcomer for his efforts.
In 2008–09, he would have a towering season for London Irish, scoring 9 tries in 27 matches in all competitions and leading the club to the Premiership final. At the conclusion of the season he was named the PRA Players' Player of the Season.
He continued as a regular starter through 2011, and by the conclusion of his stay in London had played 125 games with the side including 91 Premiership matches and 23 Heineken Cup contests.
In January 2011, Mapusua announced that he was signing in Japan with the Kubota Spears for the 2011–12 season.