Ray Niuia Explained

Ray Niuia
Birth Name:Ray Niuia
Birth Date:1991 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Auckland, New Zealand
Height:176cm (69inches)
Weight:110kg (240lb)
School:Massey High School
Ru Currentposition:Hooker
Years1:2013–2016, 2022–
Clubs1:North Harbour
Apps1:39
Points1:10
Years2:2018
Apps2:10
Points2:0
Years3:2021
Apps3:7
Points3:10
Superyears1:2019
Superapps1:1
Superpoints1:0
Superyears2:2020–2021
Super3:Moana Pasifika
Superyears3:2022–2023
Superapps3:13
Superpoints3:0
Superapps2:3
Superpoints2:0
Superupdate:4 May 2023
Ru Clubupdate:7 September 2023
Repyears1:2018–2023
Repteam1:Samoa
Repcaps1:18
Reppoints1:20
Repupdate:14 August 2023

Raymond 'Ray' Niuia (born 1991) is a New Zealand born Samoan rugby union player most recently played for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He has also played for both the and the .[1] His position of choice is Hooker.[2]

Bunnings NPC

Niuia made 26 appearances and scored 10 points for in 4 seasons.[3]

In 2018 Niuia his debut for the Tasman Mako against at Lansdowne Park. Niuia made 10 appearances for the Mako in the 2018 season as the side finished third in the premiership division. Niuia missed the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup due to commitments with Samoa and the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup with injury as the Mako won back to back premiership titles.

Niuia signed with the Manawatu Turbos for the 2021 Bunnings NPC.[4]

Super Rugby

Niuia was named in the 2019 squad but only played 1 game before being named in the squad for the 2020 Super Rugby season.[5] [6] He suffered a season ending injury on his Blues debut. Niuia finally returned from injury in Round 5 of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition in 2021 against the Western Force and came off the bench the following week in the final of the competition against the in a 23-15 win for the Blues. He signed with Moana Pasifika for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Samoa

On 23 August 2019, he was named in Samoa's 34 man training squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup,[7] before being named in the final 31 on 31 August.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ray Niuia. Blues.rugby. 25 May 2021.
  2. Web site: Raymond Niuia. 18 May 2017. Rugbyhistory.co.nz. 1 October 2018.
  3. Web site: Ray Niuia. itsrugby.co.uk. 6 October 2020.
  4. Web site: Double signing for Turbos. turbosrugby.co.nz. 14 July 2021.
  5. Web site: Pulse Energy Highlanders confirm squad for 2019 season. thehighlanders.co.nz. 6 October 2020.
  6. Web site: Blues 2020 squad named. news24.com. 6 October 2020.
  7. Web site: Alalatoa headlines Manu Samoa pre-World Cup squad. Samoa Observer. 23 August 2019. 27 August 2019.
  8. News: Two uncapped players in Samoa squad for Japan . rugbyworldcup.com . Rugby World Cup . 31 August 2019 . 1 September 2019 .