Tupou Afungia
| Full name | Tupou Ma'afu-Afungia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 12 September 1999 Tonga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 187 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 105 kg (231 lb; 16 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Westlake Boys High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tupou Afungia (born 12 September 1999) is a Tongan rugby union player, who plays for Moana Pasifika. His preferred position is flanker.[1]
Early career
Afungia is from Tonga and represented their national side at both under-16 and under-20 level.[2] He moved to New Zealand for schooling and attended Westlake Boys High School where he played rugby.[3] Following schooling he moved to the Hawke's Bay region to become part of their academy,[4] while also playing club rugby for the Māori Agricultural College Old Boys.[5]
Professional career
Afungia signed his first professional contract for the San Diego Legion, signing for the 2023 Major League Rugby season.[6] He re-signed for the 2024 season making 24 appearances in total for the side.[7] Ahead of the 2025 Major League Rugby season, he transferred to New Orleans Gold where he was re-united with former coach Danny Lee.[8] He signed for Moana Pasifika ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.[9]
Afungia made his international debut for Tonga in the 2024 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup debuting against Samoa.[10]
References
- ^ "Tupou Afungia". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "Tonga blitz Hong Kong in Brazil". Americas Rugby News. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "North Harbour 1st XV report - 20 May 2017". North Harbour Rugby. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "Hawke's Bat beat Wellington in academy clash". Club Rugby. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "Hawke's Bay club rugby squads for 2020: Who are the ones to watch?". NZ Herald. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "San Diego signs Tongan flanker Tupou Afungia". Americas Rugby News. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "San Diego come from behind to claim Cali Cup". Americas Rugby News. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "'We Are Here To Win The Competition' – Lee Ahead Of Maiden Season With The Nola Gold". Major League Rugby. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "Moana Pasifika name squad for 2026". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ "MLR trio in Tonga squad for November tests". Americas Rugby News. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
External links
- Tupou Afungia at ItsRugby.co.uk
- Tupou Afungia at all.rugby/
- Tupou Afungia at rugbydatabase.co.nz/
- All Rugby profile
- NZ Rugby History profile