Beaudein Waaka
| Full name | Beaudein Roger Tuhaunui Waaka | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 27 January 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Whakatāne, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 91 kg (201 lb; 14 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Gisborne Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Stacey Waaka (sister) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Beaudein Waaka (born 27 January 1994) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays for Manawatu in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship[1] and for Skyactivs Hiroshima in the Japan Rugby League One competition.[2] He has previously played for Taranaki, New England Free Jacks, Waikato and Kobelco Kobe Steelers.
Professional career
In 2012, Waaka played for Poverty Bay in the Heartland Championship and then he represented the Taranaki Bulls for 5 seasons in the Mitre 10 Cup competition.
In 2019, he signed with Manly RUFC. Like his sister, Stacey Waaka, he has also represented New Zealand sevens in rugby sevens.[3]
In 2020 Waaka would sign with the New England free jacks. Making 2 appearances during the 2021 season. He would then finish the year with Waikato and would help them win the Bunnings NPC Premiership Division championship.
He would then return to the free jacks the following year. In his second year with the team he would appear in 15 matches scoring 103 points. Then the next year during the 2022 season he would have a career year finishing 3rd in goal kicks and second in point scorers with 151. This would lead to him being named the MLR player of the year for the 2022 season.[4] Being the first player in free jacks history to receive the honor. He would also win the MLR championship shield with the free jacks following year in 2023.
After the 2023 season he would leave the Free jacks. Going on to sign with Skyactivs Hiroshima to play in Japan. In his first year with the team Waaka would appear in 12 matches for club scoring 72 points. However the following year he would get injured only appearing in the final game of the 2024-25 season.[5]
Honours
- Major League Rugby Championship: 2023
- Major league Rugby Player of the year: 2022
- All Major League Rugby first team: (2022)
Waikato
- Bunnings NPC Premiership Division championship (2021)
Skyactivs Hiroshima
- Japan Rugby League One division 3 championship (2025)
References
- ^ "Turbos squad confirmed for 2023" (Press release). Manawatu Turbos. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ "ボーディン・ワッカ選手加入のお知らせ" [Announcement of the addition of Beaudein Waaka] (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Skyactivs Hiroshima. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ^ "Two black jerseys for Waaka siblings". Maori Television. 8 June 2015.
- ^ Waaka named player of the year https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/new-england-free-jacks-beaudein-waaka-receives-mlr-player-of-the-year-award/
- ^ "Beaudein WAAKA profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
External links
- Beaudein Waaka at the World Rugby Men's Sevens Series (archived)
- NZ Rugby History profile
- Beaudein Waaka at ItsRugby.co.uk