Kele Lasaqa
| School | Tauranga Boys' College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Notable relative | Veveni Lasaqa (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kele Lasaqa is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a winger for Bay of Plenty Steamers in the National Provincial Championship, and the New Zealand national rugby sevens team.
Early life
Lasaqa attended Tauranga Boys' College. He was part of their rugby team which won the New Zealand national under-15 tournament, and then the prestigious Super 8 schools title in 2024, for the first time since 1999, as well as the Condors Sevens title.[2]
Career
Lasaqa plays on the wing for Bay of Plenty Steamers in the National Provincial Championship.[3] For Bay of Plenty he scored five tries in six games and was promoted to the New Zealand Under-18 Sevens team.[2][4] Lasaqa was part of the New Zealand Development team that participated in the Coral Coast Fiji 7s in Sigatoka, Fiji.[5]
Lasaqa made his debut for the senior New Zealand national rugby sevens team as they won the 2025 Dubai Sevens, part of the 2025-26 SVNS series in November 2025. His performances included a match-clinching last minute tackle in a 21-17 win over Great Britain in the pool stage.[6][7][8]
At the 2026 Singapore Sevens, Lasaqa scored a match winning try in the final minute from 65 metres out against Argentina. He was also a try scorer to help New Zealand reach the semi-finals of the 2026 Australia Sevens in a win against France.[2][9][10]
Personal life
From Fijian descent, his parents moved to New Zealand in 2003 from Ucunivanua in Verata. His brother, Gideon Lasaqa, plays for the Sydney Fijian team in the Coral Coast 7s. Their cousin is fellow New Zealand rugby player Veveni Lasaqa.[2][8][5]
References
- ^ "Kele Lasaqa". All.Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ^ a b c d Julian, Adam (6 March 2026). "The 19-year-old starring in the All Blacks Sevens' resurgence". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ^ Goile, Aaron (28 November 2025). "Black Ferns Sevens, All Blacks Sevens out to break Dubai drought in SVNS Series opener". The Post. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ^ "New Zealand Under 18 sevens teams named for Global Youth Sevens". nzrugby. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ^ a b Basiyalo, Taina (24 January 2026). "Lasaqa chases Olympic dream with All Blacks". fbc.com.fj. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ^ Cameron, Ian (29 November 2025). "Last-ditch tackle saves All Blacks Sevens, Great Britain seal shock win". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ^ "BLACK FERNS SEVENS AND ALL BLACKS SEVENS SQUADS NAMED FOR DUBAI AND CAPE TOWN". allblacks.com. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Lasaqa to debut for All Blacks 7s". Fiji Live. 26 November 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ^ "Flyer Kele Lasaqa produces moment of magic to help All Blacks Sevens reach semi-finals". stuff.co.nz. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ^ "Kele Lasaqa wonder-try keeps All Blacks Sevens' dreams alive in Singapore". thepost.co.nz. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 7 March 2026.