Kapeli Pifeleti

Kapeli Pifeleti (born September 1, 1999)[1] is a rugby union player who plays as a hooker and prop for the San Diego Legion and the United States men's national team. Born in Tonga,[2] Pifeleti has also represented the United States with the USA Selects and England with the England national under-18 team.

Kapeli Pifeleti
Date of birth (1999-09-01) September 1, 1999
Place of birthTonga
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight245 lb (111 kg)
SchoolHaileybury College
Notable relative(s)ʻOtenili Pifeleti (father)
Fakaʻosi Pifeleti (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Prop
Youth career
2017–2018 Saracens
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019
2019–		 San Diego Legion
Saracens		 15
11		 (0)
(0)
Correct as of 22 January 2021
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018
2018–present
2019–present		 England U18
USA Selects
United States		  
0
2		  
0
0
Correct as of March 12, 2019

Club career

Saracens Academy

Pifeleti played for Saracens F.C. in 2017 and 2018, making appearances with the Saracens Storm and Saracens Under-18 sides.[3][4]

San Diego Legion

In late 2018, it was announced that Pifeleti would play for the San Diego Legion during Major League Rugby's 2019 season.[2] Pifeleti made his debut for the Legion on January 27, 2019, appearing as a substitute and playing at prop, in a 25–23 defeat to Rugby United New York.[5] Pifeleti made his first start for the Legion on February 9, 2019, playing at hooker, in a 17–13 victory over Houston.[6]

International career

England national under-18 team

Pifeleti was named to the roster for the England national under-18 team in 2018.[7]

USA Selects

Pifeleti was named to the roster for the USA Selects ahead of the 2018 Americas Pacific Challenge.[8] However, he did not make an appearance for the team during the competition.[2]

USA Eagles

Pifeleti made his debut for the USA Eagles on February 23, 2019, appearing as a substitute, in the Eagles' 33–28 victory over Brazil during the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship.[9] Pifeleti qualified to represent the United States by meeting World Rugby's residency requirement.[10]

Personal life

Pifeleti has an older brother, Fakaʻosi Pifeleti, who also plays rugby as a prop for the San Diego Legion.[10] Their father, ʻOtenili Pifeleti, played rugby for the Tonga national and Samoa national teams,[11] and served as captain of the former during the 1980s.[12]

References
  1. "Kapeli Pifeleti". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  2. "San Diego Legion reveal 2019 MLR roster". Americas Rugby News. December 18, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  3. "Report: U18s Edge 11-Try Thriller at Allianz Park". Saracens F.C. January 30, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  4. "Storm Team to Face Richmond". Saracens F.C. August 24, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  5. "New York beat San Diego in MLR debut". Americas Rugby News. January 27, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  6. "Legion leave it late to beat SaberCats". Americas Rugby News. February 10, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  7. "Barlow Included in England U18s 2018 Squad". Harlequin F.C. February 19, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  8. "USA add England hooker Pifeleti to APC roster". Americas Rugby News. September 27, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  9. "Americas Rugby Championship - TX, 23 February 2019, 19:10 local, 03:10 GMT +1d". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  10. "Foreign-Born Players in 2019 Americas Rugby Championship". Americas Rugby News. January 31, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  11. "ʻOtenili Pifeleti". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  12. "Kapeli Pifeleti". San Diego Legion. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
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