Maka Unufe Explained

Maka Unufe
Full Name:Kisi Keomaka Unufe
Birth Place:Chula Vista, California, U.S.
Hometown:Provo, Utah, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in
Weight:210 lb
Headercolor:lightsteelblue
Module:
Embed:yes
Ru Position:Center
Amatyears1:2011
Years1:2022
Clubs1:Houston SaberCats
Apps1:7
Points1:5
Ru Clubupdate:December 21, 2021
Ru Sevensnationalyears1:2011–
Ru Sevensnationalteam1:United States
Ru Sevensnationalcomp1:255 (367)
Ru Sevensupdate:March 22, 2024[1]

Kisi Keomaka "Maka" Unufe (born September 28, 1991) is an American rugby union player. He has played over a decade with the United States national rugby sevens team.[2] He also played for the Houston SaberCats of Major League Rugby (MLR) as a center.

Early years

Unufe is from Provo, Utah, United States.[3] Unufe previously played American football as a wide receiver at Provo High School. Unufe starred for the Utah Warriors at the Club 7s Nationals in August 2011, earning a nomination to the All-Tournament team.[4] He was then selected to play at the National All-Star Championships.[5]

Club career

Unufe signed with the Houston SaberCats for the 2022 Major League Rugby season.[6]

U.S. national rugby sevens team

Although only 19 years old at the time, Unufe made his international debut with the United States national team playing as a wing in the 2011 Pan American games against Chile in October 2011, scoring a try in his first game. He was the team's top try scorer at the Pan Am games with 5 tries, helping the U.S. national team win a Bronze medal.[7] Following the tournament, U.S. national team head coach Al Caravelli described Unufe as "phenomenal" and "a star in the making."[8] In recognition of Unufe's rapid rise, Rugby Mag named Unufe the 2011 Men's Breakout Player of the Year,[7] and This Is American Rugby named Unufe the 2011 Youth Player of the Year.[5] Unufe made his Sevens World Series debut at the 2012 Wellington Sevens.[9]

With the arrival of speedsters Carlin Isles and Perry Baker, Unufe was moved to center.[10] Unufe was named to World Rugby's Dream Team for the 2015 Wellington Sevens tournament, due to his "strong defensive plays and hard runs."[11] Unufe played for the U.S. at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where the U.S. finished in ninth place. Unufe was a key piece of the U.S. comeback at the 2017 USA Sevens from a 0–19 deficit against Argentina to win 21–19.[12] Unufe missed the entire 2018–19 season due to a suspension for a banned substance that had been contained in a diet supplement he had taken.

Unufe competed for the United States at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.[13] [14] He competed for the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[15] [16]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maka UNUFE, Wing . its rugby . March 22, 2024.
  2. Web site: Maka Unufe - Men's Sevens . . March 11, 2017.
  3. News: Provo native Maka Unufe went from high school dropout to Olympian inspired by his family . https://web.archive.org/web/20160810152451/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659825/Provo-native-Maka-Unufe-went-from-high-school-dropout-to-Olympian-inspired-by-his-family.html . dead . August 10, 2016 . Donaldson . Amy . August 9, 2016 . . March 11, 2017.
  4. Web site: 7s Nationals All-Tournament Team . rugbymag.com . January 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111013034307/http://rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1652%3A7s-nationals-all-tournament-team&catid=72%3Aclub-sevens&Itemid=98 . October 13, 2011 . dead.
  5. Web site: TIAR Awards: Youth Player of the Year, Maka Unufe . This Is American Rugby . December 16, 2011 . July 27, 2016 . May 15, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120515052532/http://rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3276%3Afull-time-contracts-already-paying-off&catid=45%3Ausa-sevens-men&Itemid=202 . dead.
  6. Web site: Houston signs Maka Unufe, re-sign front row trio . americas rugby news . December 16, 2021 . December 20, 2021.
  7. Web site: 2011 RUGBYMag Awards! . rugbymag.com . February 2, 2022 . https://archive.today/20120716124217/http://rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3027:2011-rugbymag-awards&catid=122:rugbymag-reader-news&Itemid=347 . July 16, 2012 . dead.
  8. Web site: Archived copy . utahwarriors.com . January 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150208032454/http://utahwarriors.com/a-star-in-the-making/36/ . February 8, 2015 . dead.
  9. Web site: Full-Time Contracts Already Paying Off? . rugbymag.com . January 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120515052532/http://rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3276%3Afull-time-contracts-already-paying-off&catid=45%3Ausa-sevens-men&Itemid=202 . May 15, 2012 . dead.
  10. http://www.rugbytoday.com/7s/injuries-breed-opportunity-eagles-limp-new-zealand "INJURIES BREED OPPORTUNITY AS EAGLES LIMP TO NEW ZEALAND"
  11. Web site: Eagles Learn Vegas Draw, Unufe Makes Dream Team . This Is American Rugby . February 7, 2015 . July 27, 2016 . August 26, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160826193532/http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2015/02/eagles-learn-vegas-draw-unufe-makes.html . dead.
  12. http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2017/03/vegas-7s-men-comeback-propels-eagles.html "Vegas 7s Men: Comeback Propels Eagles Into Semi-finals
  13. Web site: September 2, 2022 . USA names rosters for Sevens World Cup . September 14, 2022 . Americas Rugby News . en-US.
  14. Web site: Cahill . Calder . September 1, 2022 . Men's Eagles Sevens touch down in Cape Town as Rugby World Cup Sevens roster is confirmed . September 14, 2022 . eagles.rugby . en.
  15. Web site: July 2, 2024 . USA Men's Roster for 2024 Paris Olympic Games . July 25, 2024 . Americas Rugby News . en-US.
  16. Web site: Dean . Taylor . July 1, 2024 . USA Rugby Announces Men's Olympic Rugby Sevens Team for Paris . July 26, 2024 . eagles.rugby . en.

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