Jordan Petaia

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Jordan Petaia

| image = File:Jordan Petaia 2017.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|3|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = {{nowrap|Werribee, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia}}{{cite news |last=Newman |first=Beth |date=13 November 2018 |title=The family ties that bind To'omua and heir Jordan |url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/11/12/italy-wallabies-toomua-petaia |work=Rugby.com.au |access-date=30 December 2019 }}

| height = {{convert|1.90|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|102|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}

| school = Brisbane State High School

| university =

| relatives =

| occupation =

| ru_position =

| ru_currentposition = Wing, Centre, Fullback

| ru_currentteam =

| youthyears1 = 2013–2017

| youthclubs1 = Brisbane State High School

| youthupdate =

| years1 = 2018–2024

| clubs1 = Reds

| apps1 = 58

| points1 = 80

| years2 = 2018

| clubs2 = Queensland Country

| apps2 = 9

| points2 = 55

| ru_clubupdate = 7 June 2024

| repyears1 = 2017

| repteam1 = Australia Schoolboys

| repcaps1 = 1

| reppoints1 = 0

| repyears2 = 2018

| repteam2 = Australia U20

| repcaps2 = 2

| reppoints2 = 0

| repyears3 = 2019–

| repteam3 = Australia

| repcaps3 = 31

| reppoints3 = 40

| module = {{Infobox NFL biography|embed=yes

| high_school = Brisbane State High School

| college =

| currentteam = Los Angeles Chargers

| number = 49

| position = Tight end

| undraftedyear = 2025

| pastteams =

Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)

| status = Active

}}

| repupdate = 10 April 2024

}}

Jordan Petaia (born 14 March 2000) is an Australian professional American football tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played rugby union for the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby and for {{nrut|Australia}} in international matches. A utility back, Petaia is most often used in the centres for both club and country.

Early life

Petaia is of Samoan and Australian heritage. {{Cite news|last=Tucker|first=Jim|date=25 April 2023|title= Jordan Petaia is starting to deliver on his unlimited potential |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/jordan-petaia-is-starting-to-deliver-on-his-unlimited-potential/|work=Rugbypass.com|access-date=11 April 2025 }} He was born in Victoria in 2000, and raised in Brisbane, Queensland.{{Cite news|last=Phillips|first=Sam|date=5 April 2018|title=Reds name youngest Super Rugby debutant in history|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/04/05/super-rugby-reds-brumbies-canberra-team-announcement|work=Rugby.com.au|access-date=10 September 2018 }}

During his time at Brisbane State High School Petaia spent time playing on the wing for the 2016 1st XV Premiership team and in his final year played fullback.{{Cite news|last=Ticker|first=Jim|date=4 July 2018|title=Super Rugby: Queensland Reds put Jordan Petaia in hot seat for Melbourne Rebels clash|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/rugby/queensland-reds/super-rugby-queensland-reds-put-jordan-petaia-in-hot-seat-for-melbourne-rebels-clash/news-story/abab83062e1f083da0b8c10a0148f6c6|work=The Courier Mail|access-date=10 September 2018 }} In his final year at the school he was selected in the Australian Schools Rugby Union side that played Fiji and New Zealand.{{cite web |title=ASRU-TEAMS-2010-2018.pdf |url=https://www.schoolsrugby.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/ASRU-TEAMS-2010-2018.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310193724/https://www.schoolsrugby.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/ASRU-TEAMS-2010-2018.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 March 2019 |website=schoolsrugby.com.au |publisher=Australian Schools Rugby Union |access-date=12 June 2020 }} Petaia has cited former Queensland Reds player Will Genia in the 2011 Super Rugby Final as a turning point in his journey in becoming a professional rugby player.{{Cite news|last=Payten|first=Iain|date=8 August 2018|title=The moment Will Genia inspired Jordan Petaia to be a Wallaby|url=http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/08/08/wallabies-petaia-|work=Rugby.com.au|access-date=10 September 2018 }}

Rugby union career

Petaia made his Super Rugby debut on 7 April 2018, round 8, against the Brumbies at GIO Stadium, Canberra. The Queensland Reds lost 45–21.{{Cite news|author=|title=Brumbies v Reds|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/rugby/live-scores/brumbies-v-reds-super-rugby-2018/518084#commentary|work=Nine's Wide World of Sports|date=7 April 2018|access-date=10 September 2018 }}{{Cite news|last=Doran|first=Christy|date=7 April 2018|title=Super Rugby: Brumbies beat Reds 45-21 in crucial Canberra clash|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/super-rugby/super-rugby-brumbies-beat-reds-4521-in-crucial-canberra-clash/news-story/7b386212872e1028ea35cdd81db9df8c|work=Fox Sports Australia|access-date=10 September 2018 }}{{Cite news|last=Caffrey|first=Oliver|date=8 April 2018|title=Super Rugby: Brumbies score big win over Reds|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby/super-rugby-brumbies-score-big-win-over-reds/news-story/ada17e0e2f73b24e7c0f463e97ff854d|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=10 September 2018 }} Petaia scored his first ever try in the Super Rugby and for the Queensland Reds in round 14 against the Hurricanes, losing narrowly, 38–34 in Wellington.{{Cite news|last=Ticker|first=Jim|date=19 May 2018|title=Super Rugby: Queensland Reds suffer narrow loss to Hurricanes|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/rugby/super-rugby-queensland-reds-suffer-narrow-loss-to-hurricanes/news-story/6b9aa946781201e5cadcbb59826db07b|work=The Courier Mail|access-date=10 September 2018 }}{{Cite news|author=|title=Reds beaten by Hurricanes in Super Rugby|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/reds-beaten-by-hurricanes-in-super-rugby|work=SBS News|date=18 May 2018|access-date=10 September 2018 }} Petaia's second try came against rivals the New South Wales Waratahs in round 16. The Queensland Reds lost at home – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – 41–52.{{Cite news|author=|title=Queensland Reds vs. New South Wales Waratahs|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/match?gameId=292195&league=242041|work=ESPN|date=2 June 2018|access-date=10 September 2018 }}

2024, his final season with the Reds before transitioning to American football, was plagued by injury.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/story/_/id/44511689/jordan-petaia-nfl-contract-los-angeles-chargers-international-player-pathway|title=Former Wallabies star Jordan Petaia signed by Los Angeles Chargers|website=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN|date=3 April 2025|access-date=3 April 2025}}

International career

=Australia=

Petaia was called up to the Australia squad by coach Michael Cheika in early August 2018, before Bledisloe Test One in Sydney, New South Wales.{{Cite news|last=Newman|first=Beth|date=5 August 2018|title=Teenager Petaia bolts into Wallabies' Bledisloe camp|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/08/04/bledisloe-cup-wallabies-cessnock-camp|work=Rugby.com.au|access-date=10 September 2018 }} However, he did not make the final team to play against New Zealand.{{Cite news|last=Newman|first=Beth|date=12 August 2018|title=Hodge coy on move to no.13 as Cheika names Wallabies squad for Bledisloe|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/08/11/wallabies-sydney-bledisloe-cup-squad-announcement|work=Rugby.com.au|access-date=10 September 2018 }}

Petaia's international debut was during a pool match against Uruguay in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, scoring a try on his second touch.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/wallabies-cruise-to-victory-over-uruguay-as-petaia-stars-on-debut-20191005-p52xwx.html|title=Wallabies cruise to victory over Uruguay as Petaia stars on debut|last=Decent|first=Tom|date=2019-10-05|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-10-05}} He set up another try before being rested at half time.

= International tries =

As of 9 September 2023{{Cite web |title=Jordan PETAIA profile and stats |url=https://all.rugby/player/jordan-petaia |access-date=2022-07-03 |website=all.rugby |language=en}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%"

!Try

!Opposing team

!Location

!Venue

!Competition

!Date

!Result

!Score

|{{ru|URU}}

|Ōita, Japan

|Oita Stadium

|2019 Rugby World Cup

|5 October 2019

|Win

|45 – 10

|{{ru|JAP}}

|Ōita, Japan

|Oita Stadium

|2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals

|23 October 2021

|Win

|23 – 32

|{{ru|ENG}}

|Perth, Australia

|Optus Stadium

|2022 England rugby union tour of Australia

|2 July 2022

|Win

|30 – 28

|{{ru|ARG}}

|Mendoza, Argentina

|Estadio Malvinas Argentinas

|2022 Rugby Championship

|6 August 2022

|Win

|26 – 41

|{{ru|NZL}}

|Auckland, New Zealand

|Eden Park

|2022 Rugby Championship

|24 September 2022

|Loss

|40 – 14

|{{ru|Ireland}}

|Dublin, Ireland

|Aviva Stadium

|2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals

|19 November 2022

|Loss

|13 – 10

|{{ru|Georgia}}

|Paris, France

|Stade de France

|2023 Rugby World Cup

|9 September 2023

|Win

|35 – 15

American football career

In December 2024, Petaia left the Queensland Reds to pursue an American football career.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/dec/03/jordan-petaia-nfl-quits-rugby-union-reds-wallabies-player|newspaper=The Guardian|title=Wallabies star Jordan Petaia walks away from rugby union to chase NFL dream|author=Hytner, Mike|date=2 December 2024}} On 9 December 2024, he was selected for the National Football League's International Player Pathway (IPP) program at the position of tight end.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2024/12/09/nfl-international-player-pathway-roje-stona-janeiro-wakeham/|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|title=Eight more rugby players and reigning Olympic champion in latest NFL recruitment wave |date=9 December 2024|author=Morgan, Charlie}}

Petaia signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on 2 April 2025.{{cite news|url=https://www.chargers.com/news/sign-jordan-petaia-2025|title=Los Angeles Chargers Sign Jordan Petaia|work=Los Angeles Chargers|date=2 April 2025|access-date=2 April 2025}}