Langi Veainu

{{short description|New Zealand & Tonga international rugby league & union footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Langi Veainu

|fullname =

|image =

|imagesize =

|caption =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1993|11|3}}

|birth_place = Kawakawa, New Zealand

|height = {{convert|169|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|72|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

|position = {{rlp|WG|CE}}

|club1 = New Zealand Warriors

|year1start = 2018

|year1end =

|appearances1 = 3

|tries1 = 0

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 0

|teamA = New Zealand

|yearAstart = 2016

|yearAend = 18

|appearancesA = 3

|triesA = 2

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 8

|teamB = Tonga

|yearBstart = 2023

|yearBend =

|appearancesB = 1

|triesB = 0

|goalsB = 0

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 0

|ru_position = Flanker

|ru_club1 = Chiefs Manawa

|ru_year1start = 2021

|ru_year1end = 2022

|ru_appearances1 = 3

|ru_tries1 = 2

|ru_goals1 = 0

|ru_fieldgoals1 = 0

|ru_points1 = 10

|ru_teamA = New Zealand

|ru_yearAstart = 2020

|ru_yearAend = 2020

|ru_appearancesA = 1

|ru_triesA = 2

|ru_goalsA = 0

|ru_fieldgoalsA = 0

|ru_pointsA = 10

|retired =

|source = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/langi-veainu/summary.html RLP]

|updated = 3 November 2023

}}

Langi Veainu (born 3 November 1993) is a New Zealand rugby league and rugby union footballer. She previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Women's Premiership and has represented New Zealand in both codes.

Background

Born in Kawakawa, Veainu grew up in Christchurch before moving to Auckland with her family following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.{{Cite web|url=https://dinglefoundation.org.nz/our-stories/our-leaders-stories/langi-veainus-quest-for-the-black-jersey/|title=Kiwi Can Leader Langi Veainu|website=Dingle Foundation}}

Her older brother, Telusa, is a Tonga rugby union international.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/106911556/warriors-langi-veainu-following-in-footsteps-of-former-crusader-highlander|title=Warriors' Langi Veainu following in footsteps of former Crusader, Highlander|date=7 September 2018|website=Stuff.co.nz}}

Playing career

=Rugby league=

In 2016, while playing for the Papakura Sisters, Veainu represented Counties Manukau.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2016/07/28/kiwi-ferns-galore-for-women-in-league-clash-/|title=Kiwi Ferns galore for Women in League clash|date=28 July 2016|website=NZ Warriors}} On 6 May 2016, she made her Test debut for New Zealand, starting on the {{rlp|wg}} in their 26–16 win over Australia in Newcastle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2017/05/02/rep-teams-vatuvei-to-debut-for-tonga/|title=Vatuvei to debut for Tonga|date=2 May 2017|website=NZ Warriors}}

On 5 May 2017, she started on the wing for New Zealand in a 4–16 loss to Australia in Canberra.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2017/05/06/match-report-no-joy-for-kiwi-ferns/|title=No joy for Kiwi Ferns|date=6 May 2017|website=NZ Warriors}}

On 1 August 2018, she was announced as a member of the New Zealand Warriors NRL Women's Premiership squad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2018/08/01/vodafone-warriors-unveil-nrl-womens-premiership-squad/|title=Vodafone Warriors unveil NRL women's premiership squad|date=1 August 2018|website=NZ Warriors}} In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Warriors in a 10–4 win over the Sydney Roosters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2018/09/05/clubs-first-womens-team-named/|title=Club's first women's team named|date=5 September 2018|website=NZ Warriors}}

On 13 October 2018, she started on the wing and scored two tries for New Zealand in a 24–26 loss to Australia in Auckland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2018/10/02/big-warriors-presence-in-kiwi-ferns/|title=Big Warriors presence in Kiwi Ferns|date=2 October 2018|website=NZ Warriors}}

=Rugby union=

In 2014, Veainu began playing for Counties Manukau in the Farah Palmer Cup.{{Cite web|url=http://nz.rugby/playerprofiles/langi-veainu/|title=Langi Veainu|website=NZ Rugby}}

In November 2019, she played for the Black Ferns Development XV at the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship in Lautoka, Fiji.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/black-ferns-development-xv-to-play-australia-a-named/|title=Black Ferns development XV to play Australia A named|date=20 November 2019|website=All Blacks}} She scored a try in their group game against Australia A and two against Papua New Guinea.{{Cite web|url=https://www.world.rugby/match/27915|title=Australia A v Black Ferns development|website=World Rugby}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.world.rugby/match/27917|title=Black Ferns development v Papua New Guinea|website=World Rugby}}

On 14 November 2020, she made her debut for the Black Ferns, scoring two tries in a 34–15 win over the New Zealand Barbarians in West Auckland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/langi-veainu-leads-black-ferns-win-over-barbarians-double-debut|title=Langi Veainu leads Black Ferns to win over Barbarians|date=14 November 2020|website=TVNZ}}