Api Pewhairangi

Api Pewhairangi

Full name	Apirana Pewhairangi
Date of birth	(1992-03-19) 19 March 1992
Place of birth	Palmerston North, New Zealand
Height
Weight	96 kilograms (15 st 2 lb)
Rugby league career
Position	Five-eighth, Centre
Youth clubs
Te Aroha Eels
Professional clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2010–2012 2013–2014 2015 2016–	Newcastle Knights Parramatta Eels New Zealand Warriors London Broncos	0 4 0 2	(0) (0) (0) (8)
National teams
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2012 2013	Junior Kiwis Ireland	2	(0)
Rugby union career
Current status
Position(s)	Centre
Current team	Connacht
Playing career
Position	Centre
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2015–	Connacht	0	(0)

Api Pewhairangi (born 19 March 1992) is a New Zealand-born professional rugby footballer who represented Ireland in rugby league at the 2013 World Cup. He currently plays for the London Broncos in the rugby league Championship, signing from Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht in the Pro12. In league Pewhairangi primarily plays as a five-eighth, with centre a secondary position. In union, he is registered with Connacht as a centre.

Early life

Pewhairangi was born in Palmerston North. Growing up, Pewhairangi played junior rugby for the Te Aroha Eels.

Rugby league career

Clubs

Newcastle Knights (2009–2012)

Pewhairangi was signed by the Newcastle Knights in 2009. He played for the Knights' NYC team from 2010 to 2012, captaining the side in 2012. However Pewhairangi did not break into the first-grade side during his time with the Knights.

Parramatta Eels (2013–2014)

In 2013, Pewhairangi moved to the Parramatta Eels and played for the Wentworthville Magpies in the NSW Cup. In Round 9 of the 2013 NRL season he made his National Rugby League debut for the Eels on 11 May 2013 against the Brisbane Broncos.

New Zealand Warriors (2015)

On 27 November 2014, after attending an open trial for their NSW Cup side, Pewhairangi signed with the New Zealand Warriors for the 2015 season.

London Broncos (2016-)

On the 12th May 2016, Kingstone Press Championship team London Broncos offered Pewairangi a 4-week trial at the club. He made his debut in London's 62-4 home win vs Whitehaven RL scoring 2 tries. After the game, the Broncos announced they have signed Pewhairangi on a contract until the end of the 2017 contract.

International

In 2011, Pewhairangi represented the New Zealand Māori Residents in a match against the New Zealand Residents. In 2012, he was selected for the Junior Kiwis.

Pewhairangi qualified to play for Ireland through his grandmother from Lucan. Despite not having been capped before and not playing for the team at under-age level, Pewhairangi was named in the Irish squad for the 2013 World Cup. He played in two of Ireland's

Rugby union career

In June 2015 it was announced that Pewhairangi would switch codes, joining Irish rugby union side Connacht. Pewhairangi trained with the squad in the 2015–16 preseason and featured in friendly matches against Grenoble and Castres. However he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the Castres game.

External links

• 2013 Parramatta Eels profile