Mike Te'o Explained

Mike Te'o
Fullname:Michael Paseka Te'o
Birth Date:23 July 1993
Birth Place:Long Beach, California, U.S.
Height:5feet
Weight:2050NaN0
School:Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Spouse:Clara Pugmire (m. 2020)
Position:Wing, Fullback
Currentclub:San Diego Legion
Years1:2016
Clubs1:San Diego Breakers
Apps1:10
Points1:30
Years2:2018–2020
Clubs2:San Diego Legion
Apps2:15
Points2:40
Years3:2020
Clubs3:London Scottish
Apps3:0
Points3:0
Years4:2021–2022
Clubs4:Utah Warriors
Apps4:23
Points4:67
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:San Diego Legion
Apps5:18
Points5:30
Repyears1:2012–2013
Repteam1:United States U20
Repcaps1:6
Reppoints1:15
Repyears2:2016–
Repteam2:United States
Repcaps2:30
Reppoints2:80
Repyears3:2016
Repteam3:USA Selects
Repcaps3:3
Reppoints3:5
Clubupdate:7 August 2023[1]
Repupdate:10 July 2021
Ru Sevensnationalyears1:2012–2017
Ru Sevensnationalteam1:United States
Ru Sevensnationalcomp1:11
Ru Sevensupdate:21 May 2017

Michael Paseka Te'o (born July 23, 1993) is an American professional rugby player who plays for San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR). He also represents the America as a member of the United States national rugby union team.

He previously played for London Scottish in the RFU Championship England's second tier competition.

Te'o debuted for the U.S. at the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship, playing mostly at scrum-half, but also at fullback.[2]

Early career

As a youth, Te'o grew up in Long Beach, California. He played American football for the Long Beach Polytechnic football team in addition to rugby.

Te'o was a member of the United States national under-20 rugby union team that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy.

Professional rugby career

Te'o has also played for the United States national rugby sevens team, debuting at the 2012 Gold Coast Sevens during the 2012-13 World Rugby Sevens Series. Te'o was later named as a non-traveling reserve for the U.S. sevens squad for the 2014 Australia Sevens.[3] Te'o played for the U.S. sevens team in the 2015 Pan American games.[4]

Before signing with the San Diego Breakers in the short-lived PRO Rugby, Te'o played for Belmont Shore in Long Beach, California in both 15s and sevens. With Belmont Shore he won the 2012 15s National Championship, the Club 7's National Championship, and was named 7's tournament MVP.[5] He has also played with the Taranaki Development program in New Zealand.[6]

Te’o signed with London Scottish ahead of the 2020–21 season, but never played a match as the season was suspended due to the pandemic.[7] [8] The Utah Warriors signed USA Mike Te’o for the 2021 Major League Rugby season.[9] Te'o was traded back to the San Diego Legion in September 2022 for the 2023 Major League Rugby season.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mike TE'O, Full back . ITS Rugby . 8 August 2023.
  2. http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2016/02/more-changes-as-eagles-face-chile.html "More Changes As Eagles Face Chile"
  3. http://www.goffrugbyreport.com/national-teams/hughes-leads-eagles-7s-gold-coast "Hughes Leads Eagles 7s to Gold Coast"
  4. http://www.rugbytoday.com/elite/eagles-roster-set-pan-am-games "Eagles Roster set for Pan Am Games"
  5. http://www.usarugby.org/2012/08/belmont-shore-repeats-7s-title/ "BELMONT SHORE REPEATS 7s TITLE"
  6. http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2015/11/12/20-domestic-players-to-benefit-from-pro-rugby/ "20 Domestic Players to Benefit from PRO Rugby"
  7. Web site: Mike Te'o's season ends at London Scottish before it starts . therugbypaper . 31 March 2020.
  8. Web site: 2020-03-12. Mike Te'o joins London Scottish. 2020-06-18. London Scottish Rugby. en-GB.
  9. Web site: Utah Warriors Signs Mike Te’o . djcoilrugby . 7 December 2020.
  10. Web site: Mikey Te'o Returns to San Diego in Utah Trade . Americas Rugby News . September 14, 2022.