Lelia Masaga
| Birth name | Lelia Tony Corona Masaga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 30 August 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Wellington, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 94 kg (207 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | James Cook High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lelia Masaga (born 30 August 1986) is a professional rugby union player from New Zealand. Masaga is contracted to the Chiefs in Super Rugby where he plays on the wing. He is nicknamed Flash. His career was highlighted by selection for New Zealand representation in the 2006 Under 21 Rugby World Cup in France. Masaga was the top try scorer in the tournament with 7 tries.
The NZRU's controversial decision to 'recondition' established All Black test players including Chiefs anchors Sitiveni Sivivatu and Mils Muliaina allowed Masaga to cement his position in the side. Despite early losses in the 2007 season, coaches Ian Foster and Warren Gatland showed patience and trust in the young winger who has performed remarkably well, co-leading the tournament as top try scorer with 8 tries going into the last round. He was included in the All Blacks squad for the 2009 Iveco Series to cover for injuries when he earned his first test cap against Italy on 27 June 2009.[citation needed]
After the 2013 Super Rugby season, he would be off to play rugby in Japan[1]
References
External links
- Lelia Masaga at the All Blacks (archived)
- Chiefs web site profile
- Under 21 selection
- 2006 IRB Under 21 top tryscorer list
- Masaga discusses the early stages of Super 14 2007 for the Chiefs
- Masaga's is interviewed about his excellent effort in a crucial win against the Sharks in April 2007
- BOP profile
- Use dmy dates from December 2012
- 1986 births
- Bay of Plenty rugby union players
- Living people
- New Zealand international rugby union players
- New Zealand rugby union players
- Chiefs (rugby union) players
- Counties Manukau Steelers players
- Honda Heat players
- Super Rugby players
- Rugby union wings
- Rugby union players from Wellington City
- New Zealand expatriate rugby union players
- Expatriate rugby union players in Japan
- New Zealand expatriates in Japan