Maka Unufe

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Maka Unufe

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Kisi Keomaka Unufe

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|September 28, 1991}}

| birth_place = Chula Vista, California, U.S.

| hometown = Provo, Utah, U.S.

| height = 6 ft 1 in

| weight = 210 lb

| headercolor = lightsteelblue

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

| ru_position = Center

| amatyears1 = 2011

| amatteam1 = {{nowrap|Utah Warriors}}

| years1 = 2022

| clubs1 = Houston SaberCats

| apps1 = 7

| points1 = 5

| ru_clubupdate = December 21, 2021

| repyears1 =

| repteam1 =

| repcaps1 =

| reppoints1 =

| ru_sevensnationalyears1 = 2011–

| ru_sevensnationalteam1 = United States

| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 = 255 (367)

| ru_sevensupdate = March 22, 2024{{cite web |title=Maka UNUFE, Wing |url=https://www.itsrugby.co.uk/players/maka-unufe-25350.html |website=its rugby |access-date=March 22, 2024}}

}}}}

Kisi Keomaka "Maka" Unufe (born September 28, 1991) is an American rugby union player. He has played over a decade with the United States national rugby sevens team.{{cite web |url=https://www.usarugby.org/player/maka-unufe/ |title=Maka Unufe - Men's Sevens |publisher=USA Rugby |accessdate=March 11, 2017}} He also played for the Houston SaberCats of Major League Rugby (MLR) as a center.

Early years

Unufe is from Provo, Utah, United States.{{cite news |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659825/Provo-native-Maka-Unufe-went-from-high-school-dropout-to-Olympian-inspired-by-his-family.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810152451/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659825/Provo-native-Maka-Unufe-went-from-high-school-dropout-to-Olympian-inspired-by-his-family.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 10, 2016 |title=Provo native Maka Unufe went from high school dropout to Olympian inspired by his family |last=Donaldson |first=Amy |date=August 9, 2016 |work=Deseret News |accessdate=March 11, 2017}} Unufe previously played American football as a wide receiver at Provo High School. Unufe starred for the Utah Warriors at the Club 7s Nationals in August 2011, earning a nomination to the All-Tournament team.{{cite web |url=http://rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1652%3A7s-nationals-all-tournament-team&catid=72%3Aclub-sevens&Itemid=98 |title=7s Nationals All-Tournament Team |website=rugbymag.com |access-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013034307/http://rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1652%3A7s-nationals-all-tournament-team&catid=72%3Aclub-sevens&Itemid=98 |archive-date=October 13, 2011 |url-status=dead}} He was then selected to play at the National All-Star Championships.{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2011/12/tiar-awards-youth-player-of-year-maka.html |title=TIAR Awards: Youth Player of the Year, Maka Unufe |publisher=This Is American Rugby |date=December 16, 2011 |accessdate=July 27, 2016 |archive-date=May 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515052532/http://rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3276%3Afull-time-contracts-already-paying-off&catid=45%3Ausa-sevens-men&Itemid=202 |url-status=dead}}

Club career

Unufe signed with the Houston SaberCats for the 2022 Major League Rugby season.{{cite web |title=Houston signs Maka Unufe, re-sign front row trio |url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2021/12/16/houston-signs-maka-unufe-re-sign-front-row-trio/ |website=americas rugby news |date=December 16, 2021 |access-date=December 20, 2021}}

U.S. national rugby sevens team

Although only 19 years old at the time, Unufe made his international debut with the United States national team playing as a wing in the 2011 Pan American games against Chile in October 2011, scoring a try in his first game. He was the team's top try scorer at the Pan Am games with 5 tries, helping the U.S. national team win a Bronze medal.{{cite web |url=http://rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3027:2011-rugbymag-awards&catid=122:rugbymag-reader-news&Itemid=347 |title=2011 RUGBYMag Awards! |website=rugbymag.com |access-date=February 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716124217/http://rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3027:2011-rugbymag-awards&catid=122:rugbymag-reader-news&Itemid=347 |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |url-status=dead}} Following the tournament, U.S. national team head coach Al Caravelli described Unufe as "phenomenal" and "a star in the making."{{cite web |url=http://utahwarriors.com/a-star-in-the-making/36/ |title=Archived copy |website=utahwarriors.com |access-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208032454/http://utahwarriors.com/a-star-in-the-making/36/ |archive-date=February 8, 2015 |url-status=dead}} In recognition of Unufe's rapid rise, Rugby Mag named Unufe the 2011 Men's Breakout Player of the Year, and This Is American Rugby named Unufe the 2011 Youth Player of the Year. Unufe made his Sevens World Series debut at the 2012 Wellington Sevens.{{cite web |url=http://rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3276%3Afull-time-contracts-already-paying-off&catid=45%3Ausa-sevens-men&Itemid=202 |title=Full-Time Contracts Already Paying Off? |website=rugbymag.com |access-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515052532/http://rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3276%3Afull-time-contracts-already-paying-off&catid=45%3Ausa-sevens-men&Itemid=202 |archive-date=May 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}

With the arrival of speedsters Carlin Isles and Perry Baker, Unufe was moved to center.[http://www.rugbytoday.com/7s/injuries-breed-opportunity-eagles-limp-new-zealand "INJURIES BREED OPPORTUNITY AS EAGLES LIMP TO NEW ZEALAND"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202130616/http://www.rugbytoday.com/7s/injuries-breed-opportunity-eagles-limp-new-zealand |date=February 2, 2018 }}, Rugby Today, Pat Clifton, January 30, 2018. Unufe was named to World Rugby's Dream Team for the 2015 Wellington Sevens tournament, due to his "strong defensive plays and hard runs."{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2015/02/eagles-learn-vegas-draw-unufe-makes.html |title=Eagles Learn Vegas Draw, Unufe Makes Dream Team |publisher=This Is American Rugby |date=February 7, 2015 |accessdate=July 27, 2016 |archive-date=August 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826193532/http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2015/02/eagles-learn-vegas-draw-unufe-makes.html |url-status=dead}} Unufe played for the U.S. at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where the U.S. finished in ninth place. Unufe was a key piece of the U.S. comeback at the 2017 USA Sevens from a 0–19 deficit against Argentina to win 21–19.[http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2017/03/vegas-7s-men-comeback-propels-eagles.html "Vegas 7s Men: Comeback Propels Eagles Into Semi-finals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303225227/http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2017/03/vegas-7s-men-comeback-propels-eagles.html |date=March 3, 2018 }}, This Is American Rugby, March 4, 2017. Unufe missed the entire 2018–19 season due to a suspension for a banned substance that had been contained in a diet supplement he had taken.

Unufe competed for the United States at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.{{Cite web |date=September 2, 2022 |title=USA names rosters for Sevens World Cup |url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2022/09/01/usa-names-rosters-for-sevens-world-cup/ |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=Americas Rugby News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Cahill |first=Calder |date=September 1, 2022 |title=Men's Eagles Sevens touch down in Cape Town as Rugby World Cup Sevens roster is confirmed |url=https://eagles.rugby/news/mens-eagles-sevens-touch-down-in-cape-town-as-rugby-world-cup-sevens-roster-is-confirmed-202291 |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=eagles.rugby |language=en}} He competed for the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.{{Cite web |date=July 2, 2024 |title=USA Men's Roster for 2024 Paris Olympic Games |url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2024/07/02/usa-mens-roster-for-2024-paris-olympics-games/ |access-date=July 25, 2024 |website=Americas Rugby News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Dean |first=Taylor |date=July 1, 2024 |title=USA Rugby Announces Men's Olympic Rugby Sevens Team for Paris |url=https://eagles.rugby/news/usa-rugby-announces-mens-olympic-rugby-sevens-team-for-paris-202471 |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=eagles.rugby |language=en}}

References

External links

{{World Rugby Sevens Series player|mens/51613}}
[https://usa.rugby/players/maka-unufe/1352 Maka Unufe] at USA Rugby ([https://web.archive.org/web/20210616052918/https://www.usa.rugby/player/maka-unufe/ archive June 16, 2021])
{{Team USA|new_id=maka-unufe-1247961|old_id=UN/Maka-Unufe|archive=20220801005640}}
{{Olympedia}}
{{Olympics.com|maka-unufe}}
[https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/maka-unufe_1950552 Maka Unufe] at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Provo, Utah

Category:United States international rugby sevens players

Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic rugby sevens players for the United States

Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2011 Pan American Games

Category:Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games

Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in rugby sevens

Category:Rugby union centres

Category:Houston SaberCats players

Category:American rugby sevens players