Tafai Ioasa

27-year-old Ioasa has signed to play for the Fukuoka Sanix Blues and will leave New Zealand in June at the completion of the current IRB Sevens World Series.

Ioasa, who was unavailable for the Hong Kong and Adelaide tournaments due to injury, was first selected in the New Zealand Sevens team in 2001.

He has played in 47 IRB World Sevens Series tournaments, is sixth on the Series all-time try scoring list with 109 tries and 14th on the all-time points scoring list with 551 points.  

He captained the New Zealand Sevens team to Commonwealth Games gold in 2006 and he was named the New Zealand Sevens Player of the Year the same year.

Ioasa has also played 45 games for Hawke’s Bay scoring 14 tries and was in the then New Zealand Divisional XV in 2000 and 2005.

Ioasa said after eight seasons in the New Zealand Sevens squad he and wife Emily had decided that the time was right for them and their young family to make the move. “Although we will miss New Zealand, we are looking forward to settling in Japan and experiencing a different culture and lifestyle. “I’d like to thank the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union, the loyal supporters of the Magpies, my team mates and the NZRU for their support during my career in New Zealand.”

New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens said while it would be sad to see Ioasa go, he went with the best wishes of the New Zealand Sevens team. “He is one of the best Sevens players in the world and a very influential player. As a captain he has been outstanding, especially when we won gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2006.” 

Hawke’s Bay RFU CEO Mike Bishop said Ioasa had been a loyal servant of Hawke’s Bay rugby and went with the union’s blessing. “He has been an outstanding contributor both on and off the field for our province and been very popular with the fans, his team mates and with the Hawke’s Bay RFU Board and staff. We wish him all the best.”