Leon Fukofuka
{{expand French|topic=bio|date=October 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Leon Fukofuka
| image =
| fullname = Leon Fukofuka
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|9|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
| height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|94|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Kelston Boys' High School
| university =
| relatives = Tuʻakalau Fukofuka (father)
| position = Halfback
| currentclub = {{Rut|Auckland}}
| youthyears1 = 2008−12
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Auckland}}
| years1 = 2014−
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Auckland}}
| apps1 = 34
| points1 = 5
| years2 = 2016−2018
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Crusaders}}
| apps2 = 15
| points2 = 0
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 =
| amatcaps1 =
| amatpoints1 =
| repyears1 = 2014
| repteam1 = New Zealand Under-20
| repcaps1 = 4
| reppoints1 = 5
| repyears2 = 2017
| repteam2 = Tonga
| repcaps2 = 7
| reppoints2 = 0
| clubupdate = 19 November 2018
| repupdate = 11 September 2019
}}
Leon Fukofuka (born 8 September 1994) is a rugby union player who currently plays as a halfback for {{Rut|Auckland}} in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and is a {{nrut|Tonga}} international.{{cite web | url=http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/mitre-10-cup/player-profiles | title=Leon Fukofuka Auckland Player Profile | work=Auckland Rugby | accessdate=23 December 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_32274.html | title=Leon Fukofuka itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics | work=itsrugby.co.uk | accessdate=8 December 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://www.espn.co.uk/newzealand/rugby/player/229105.html | title=Leon Fukofuka ESPN Scrum Player Profile | work=ESPN Scrum | accessdate=8 December 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Crusaders-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | title=Crusaders 2017 Squad Guide | publisher=All Blacks.com | accessdate=23 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703043050/http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Crusaders-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | archive-date=3 July 2019 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://crusaders.co.nz/the-team/leon-fukofuka | title=Leon Fukofuka Crusaders Player Profile | publisher=Crusaders Rugby | accessdate=23 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407064643/http://crusaders.co.nz/the-team/leon-fukofuka | archive-date=7 April 2017 | url-status=dead }}
Early career
The son of former Auckland and {{nrut|Tonga}} Prop, Kalau Fukofuka, Leon was born and raised in West Auckland and played first XV rugby for Kelston Boys' High School, initially as a flanker before switching to halfback in year 11. After graduating from high school, he began playing for Marist in Auckland's Premier club rugby competition and also turned out for {{rut|Auckland}}'s sevens team.{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/64918272/leon-fukofuka-takes-unusual-route-to-chiefs-halfback-role | title=Leon Fukofuka takes unusual route to Chiefs halfback role | publisher=Rugby Heaven | date = 14 January 2015 | accessdate=23 December 2016}}
Senior career
He was first named in Auckland's senior squad for the 2014 ITM Cup and made a total of 7 appearances in the competition, although only 3 were starts as he largely played backup to the more experienced Junior Poluleuligaga. 2015 was largely a right-off as a shoulder injury restricted him to just a solitary appearance during Auckland's run to the ITM Cup Premiership final while 2016 saw him return to full fitness and play in all 10 of Auckland's regular season games as they finished in a disappointing 5th place which saw them miss out on the play-offs.{{cite web | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11478906 | title=Rugby: Auckland ITM Cup squad has young, vibrant look | publisher=New Zealand Herald | date = 10 July 2015 | accessdate=23 December 2016}}
Super Rugby
Despite his relative lack of experience, an injury to All Blacks halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow paved the way for Fukofuka to be named in the {{Rut|Chiefs}} wider training group for the 2015 Super Rugby season.{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2015_ISR/2015_ISR_Squad_Naming_ChiefsF02.pdf | title=Chiefs 2015 Squad Naming | work=All Blacks.com | accessdate=8 December 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/chiefs-announce-full-squad.html | title=Chiefs announce full squad | work=Chiefs rugby | date=29 October 2014 | accessdate=8 December 2014 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205164311/http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/chiefs-announce-full-squad.html | archivedate=5 December 2014 | df=dmy-all }} The presence of two excellent number 9s in the shape of Augustine Pulu and Brad Weber meant that Fukofuka didn't see any game time during the campaign and subsequently transferred to the {{rut|Crusaders}} wider training group for 2016. With the franchise's first choice halfback Andy Ellis returning from a spell in Japan after the season had begun, Fukofuka was able to get some game time as back up to Mitchell Drummond, debuting as a substitute in a home game against his former side, the {{rut|Chiefs}}. He found himself promoted to the senior squad for 2017 where he would compete against Drummond and new arrival from the {{rut|Blues}}, Bryn Hall for a starting berth.
International
Fukofuka was selected for the New Zealand Barbarians Schools side in 2012 and 2 years later was a member of the New Zealand Under-20 side which finished 3rd at the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship in his home country where he played once and scored one try.{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/Player/Index/2207?team=U20 | title=Leon Fukofuka New Zealand Under 20 Player Profile | work=All Blacks.com | accessdate=8 December 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/24842/nzu20-squad-named-for-irb-jwc2014 | title=NZ U20 squad named for IRB JWC 2014 | work=All Blacks.com | date=23 April 2014 | accessdate=23 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112212/http://www.allblacks.com/News/24842/nzu20-squad-named-for-irb-jwc2014 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/20535/nzschools-team-named-for-internationals | title=NZSchools team named for internationals | work=All Blacks.com | date=20 September 2012 | accessdate=23 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019001832/http://www.allblacks.com/News/20535/nzschools-team-named-for-internationals | archive-date=19 October 2018 | url-status=dead }}
Super Rugby Statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height:90%; font-size:95%; width:70%;" | ||||||||||||
| Season | Team | Games | Starts | Sub | Mins | Tries | Cons | Pens | Drops | Points | Yel | Red |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | {{Rut|Crusaders}} | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total || 12 || 0 || 4 || 0|| 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Tonga Squad 2019 Rugby World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fukofuka, Leon}}
Category:New Zealand rugby union players
Category:Rugby union scrum-halves
Category:Auckland rugby union players
Category:Crusaders (rugby union) players
Category:Rugby union players from Auckland
Category:People educated at Kelston Boys' High School
Category:New Zealand sportspeople of Tongan descent
Category:Tonga international rugby union players