Abraham Papali'i

{{short description|New Zealand rugby league and union footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Abraham Papali'i

| image = Abraham Papalii.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1993|6|20}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{convert|194|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|126|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

| school = Massey High School

| university =

| relatives =

| spouse = Amanda Papāli’i

| children =

| occupation =

| ru_currentposition = Back row

| ru_currentteam = CA Brive

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Massey

| amatyears1 = 2019

| amatteam1 = Waitakere

| amatyears2 = 2019

| amatteam2 = Greerton Marist

| ru_amupdate = 10 October 2019

| years1 = 2020–2022
2022-

| clubs1 = Connacht
CA Brive

Castres

| apps1 = 26
2

| points1 = 25
(0)

| totalyears =

| totalapps =

| totalpoints =

| ru_clubupdate = 11 September 2022

| ru_provinceyears1 = 2019

| ru_province1 = Bay of Plenty

| ru_provinceapps1 = 5

| ru_provincepoints1 = 5

| ru_provinceupdate = 11 September 2022

| superyears1 =

| super1 =

| superapps1 =

| superpoints1 =

| superupdate =

| repyears1 =

| repteam1 =

| repapps1 =

| reppoints1 =

| ru_ntupdate =

| website =

| medals =

| module = {{infobox rugby league biography

| embed = yes

| position = {{rlp|SR|LK|CE}}

| club1 = Glenora Bears

| year1start = 2014

| appearances1 = 2

| points1 = 16

| club2 = Sydney Roosters

| year2start = 2015

| year2end = 16

| appearances2 = 2

| tries2 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| fieldgoals2 = 0

| points2 = 0

| club3 = Lézignan Sangliers

| year3start = 2016

| year3end = 17

| appearances3 = 13

| points3 = 40

| club4 = {{nowrap|Pt Chevalier Pirates}}

| year4start = 2017

| year4end = 18

| appearances4 = 27

| points4 = 42

| teamA = {{nowrap|NSW Residents}}

| yearAstart = 2016

| yearAend =

| appearancesA = 1

| triesA = 0

| goalsA = 0

| fieldgoalsA = 0

| pointsA = 0

| updated = 10 January 2024

}}

Abraham Papali'i (born 20 June 1993) is a professional rugby player from New Zealand. He has played both rugby union and rugby league professionally. Papali'i currently plays rugby union for Castres Olympique in France as back row. He last played league professionally with French side Lézignan Sangliers in the Elite One Championship, where he covered {{rlp|sr|lk}} and {{rlp|ce}}.

Papali'i's first professional club in either code was the New Zealand Warriors. He featured for the Warriors in the National Youth Competition and NSW Cup, but did not feature for the senior team before leaving for the Sydney Roosters in 2014. Papali'i stayed with the Roosters for two seasons before joining semi-professional side Lézignan. With Lézignan, he contested the final of the 2016–17 Elite One Championship before returning home to New Zealand. In New Zealand, Papali'i began playing amateur rugby union at club level. His form attracted the attention of the Bay of Plenty Steamers, who became his first professional side in the 15-man code. After impressing with the Steamers as they earned promotion, Papali'i was signed by Connacht in July 2020. In 2022 it was announced that he would be leaving Connacht for CA Brive who compete in the French Top 14.

Early life

Papali'i was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, to a family of Samoan descent. He attended Massey High School in the city. Growing up, he played junior rugby league for the Glenora Bears and Pt Chevalier Pirates and played rugby union at under-age level for the Massey Rugby Club under the North Harbour Rugby Union. After finishing school, Papali'i was signed by the New Zealand Warriors.

Playing career

=Youth career=

On 16 March 2013, Papali'i made his debut for the New Zealand Warriors' National Youth Championship side against the Sydney Roosters.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/college-sport-pupils-chase-league-dream/4GLXVU7UWUITEZSGPPSZX6EBGA/ |work=New Zealand Herald |title=College Sport: Pupils chase league dream |date=19 March 2013 |access-date=10 October 2020}} He went on to make a total of 15 appearances in the competition, scoring 4 tries.{{cite web|url=http://nycdatabase.org/players/p/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705095446/http://nycdatabase.org/players/p/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=5 July 2015|title=National Youth Competition players: P |work=18th Man |date=27 December 2012 |access-date=10 October 2020}} Papali'i graduated to their New South Wales Cup team in 2014.{{cite web |work=New South Wales Rugby League |url=http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2014/03/04/vb_nsw_cup_team_lists_round_one.html |title=VB NSW Cup Team Lists - Round One |date=4 March 2014|access-date=10 October 2020}} At this time, he also played for Auckland Rugby League side, Glenora, competing in the 2014 Fox Memorial tournament. In November 2014, it was announced that Papali'i was leaving the Warriiors.{{cite web |url=https://www.zerotackle.com/abraham-papalii-joins-roosters-15688/ |work=Zero Tackle |title=Abraham Papalii joins Roosters |date=10 November 2014 |access-date=10 October 2020}}

Papali'i signed a two-year contract with the Sydney Roosters ahead of the 2015 season. He did not feature for the first team that year however. Papali'i made his NRL debut for the Roosters from the bench against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on 8 April 2014, in round 6 of the 2016 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/updated-round-6-nrl-team-lists/tabid/10874/newsid/94519/default.aspx|title=UPDATED: Round 6 NRL team lists|publisher=NRL.com|date=|access-date=2016-04-08}}{{cite web|author=NRL|url=http://www.roosters.com.au/news/2016/04/08/nrl_late_mail_round_.html|title=NRL Late Mail | Round 6|publisher=Roosters|date=8 April 2016|access-date=2016-04-08}} He made one further first team appearance for the side, coming off the bench against Melbourne Storm in a 0–46 defeat.{{cite web |url=https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2016/round-14/roosters-vs-storm/ |work=National Rugby League |title=Roosters v Storm - Round 14, 2016 - Match Centre |date=11 June 2016 |access-date=10 October 2020}}

=Lézignan Sangliers=

In November 2016, Papali'i joined Lézignan Sangliers in the premier French rugby league competition, the Elite One Championship, linking up with former NRL and Super League player Ben Pomeroy.{{cite web|author=Nathan Ryan |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/private-ryan-shaun-johnson-launches-brand-roosters-forward-to-france-paul-gallen-boxing/news-story/2e66a9cfa826e7d5948d4f78aca0a451 |title=Shaun Johnson brand, Paul Gallen boxing, Rooster leaves NRL — Private Ryan |work=Fox Sports |date=21 November 2016 |access-date=10 October 2020}} He made his debut on 4 December 2016 against Carcassonne.{{cite web |url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-zoom-36909-xiiifrance-2016-game.html |work=ItsRugby |title=Abraham Papali'i - Player Statistics - Elite France XIII 2016 |access-date=10 October 2020}} Lézignan finished top of the league in the regular season, but lost the final of the 2016–17 Championship to the Limoux Grizzlies.{{cite web |url=https://www.ffr13.fr/actualites-nationales/limoux-cest-fou/ |work=Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII |title=Limoux, c'est fou! |date=3 June 2017 |access-date=10 October 2020}} During his season with the side, Papali'i featured 13 times and scored 40 points.{{cite web |url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/players/abraham-papalii-36909.html |work=ItsRugby |title=Abraham PAPALI'I - Player statistics |access-date=10 October 2020}}

=Switch to union=

After playing for Lézignan for a season, Papali'i returned to New Zealand. He began playing amateur rugby league with his old junior side Pt Chevalier Pirates, playing in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition in 2017 and 2018.{{cite web |url=https://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&client=1-4975-69518-431808-24826845&pID=196258452&news_task=DETAIL |work=SportsTG |title=Player statistics for Abraham Papali'i |access-date=10 October 2020}} The Pirates reached the Grand Finals in both seasons, winning in 2018.{{cite web |url=https://websites.sportstg.com/nfnn/comp_info.cgi?c=1-4975-0-431808-0&pool=1001&round=0&a=ROUND |work=SportsTG |title=Results for 2017 SAS Fox Memorial |date=2 September 2017 |access-date=10 October 2020}}{{cite web |url=http://www.kiwileaguecentral.com/regional/2018-fox-memorial-grand-final-ratings-pt-chevalier/ |work=Kiwi League Central |title=2018 Fox Memorial Grand Final ratings: Pt Chevalier |date=3 September 2018 |access-date=10 October 2020}}

In 2019, he decided to switch codes and joined Auckland-based rugby union side Waitakere. Papali'i's form at club level brought him to attention of the Bay of Plenty Steamers, who signed him for the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/2019-bay-of-plenty-steamers-squad-announced |work=Chiefs Rugby |title=2019 Bay of Plenty Steamers squad announced |date=8 August 2019 |access-date=10 October 2020}} His move to the Steamers also saw him join Baywide Championship side, Greerton Marist, for the remainder of their season.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/rugby-bay-of-plenty-steamers-sign-former-nrl-player-abraham-papalii/IP3JSMF3PVCH2CVOV3IQE5XSM4/ |work=Bay of Plenty Times |title=Rugby: Bay of Plenty Steamers sign former NRL player Abraham Papali'i |date=3 August 2019 |access-date=10 October 2020}} Papali'i made his debut for the Steamers on 11 August 2019 against Otago,{{cite web |url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-zoom-36909-mitre10cup-2019-game.html |work=ItsRugby |title=Abraham Papali'i - Player Statistics - MITRE 10 CUP 2019 |access-date=10 October 2020}} scoring a try on his debut.{{cite web |url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-zoom-36909-mitre10cup-2019-try.html |work=ItsRugby |title=Abraham Papali'i - Player Statistics - MITRE 10 CUP 2019 - Tries scored |access-date=10 October 2020}} He played five times for the side in the regular season as they topped the Championship Division, but did not feature in the play-offs as the Steamers won the title to earn promotion.{{cite web |url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/match/bay-of-plenty-vs-manawatu-at-rotorua-international-stadium-18th-oct-2019/81607/lineup |work=Ultimate Rugby |title=Bay of Plenty v Manawatu, Mitre 10 Cup 2019 - Lineup |date=18 October 2019 |access-date=10 October 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/match/bay-of-plenty-vs-hawke%27s-bay-at-rotorua-international-stadium-25th-oct-2019/81611/lineup |work=Ultimate Rugby |title=Bay of Plenty v Hawke's Bay, Mitre 10 Cup 2019 - Lineup |date=25 October 2019 |access-date=10 October 2020}}

=Connacht=

In July 2020, it was announced that Papali'i had signed with Irish provincial side Connacht.{{cite web |url=https://www.the42.ie/connacht-odonnell-5144565-Jul2020/ |work=The42 |title=Connacht confirm signings of Aussie 7s international and Kiwi number eight |date=8 July 2020 |access-date=10 October 2020}} His signing came as Connacht's league, the Pro14, was in the midst of an indefinite hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/51858815 |work=BBC Sport |title=Coronavirus: Pro14 final cancelled due to coronavirus |date=19 March 2020 |access-date=19 April 2020}} Papali'i made his first appearance for the side in the second game after the restart, an interprovincial derby against Munster.{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/0828/1161851-papalii-to-make-connacht-bow-beirne-back-for-munster/ |work=RTÉ Sport |title=Papali'i to make Connacht bow, Beirne back for Munster |date=28 August 2020 |access-date=10 October 2020}} His debut was marred by a red card after 25 minutes, for a high tackle on Lions scrum-half Conor Murray.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/122613346/kiwi-import-abraham-papalii-red-carded--for-high-shot-on-lions-halfback-in-irish-rugby-debut |work=Stuff.co.nz |title=Kiwi import Abraham Papali'i red carded for high shot on Lions halfback in Irish rugby debut |date=31 August 2020 |access-date=10 October 2020}}

Despite a problematic introduction to Pro 14 Rugby, whereby a second Red Card in only his third game back from suspension against Zebre{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Niall |title=Connacht's Papali'i given five-week ban for Zebre red card |url=https://www.the42.ie/abraham-papalii-five-week-ban-connacht-zebre-red-card-5280584-Nov2020/ |work=The42 |language=en}} lead to a five week ban. Papali'i's strong carrying game and big hits were making a big impression on fans and management alike. Such that an additional years contract with Connacht was announced on May 4, 2021.{{cite news |last1=Dollery |first1=Paul |title=Connacht secure services of 'very impressive' Papali'i for another season |url=https://www.the42.ie/connacht-secure-services-of-very-impressive-papalii-for-another-season-5427815-May2021/ |work=The42 |language=en}}