Player Bio
Apii Nicholls-Pualau (born 26 February 1993) is a New Zealand rugby league and union player. She played for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL Women's Premiership. Primarily a fullback, she is a New Zealand representative.
Born in Rarotonga, Nicolls-Paualau represented the Cook Islands rugby sevens team before switching to rugby league.
In 2017, Nicholls-Paulau began playing for the Otahuhu Leopards in the Auckland Rugby League. Later that year, she was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup. She captained the team in a 50–4 win over Canada. On 2 December 2017, she started at fullback in New Zealand's final loss to Australia.
On 11 February 2018, she was named the NZRL Women's Player of the Year.
On 1 August 2018, she joined the New Zealand Warriors NRL Women's Premiership team. In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Warriors, kicking a goal in a 10–4 win over the Sydney Roosters.
In October 2019, Nicholls-Pualau was a member of New Zealand's 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s-winning squad.
In October 2022, she was selected for the New Zealand squad at the delayed 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup in England.
Nicholls-Pualau was signed by Chiefs Manawa for the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season. She rejoined the side for the 2024 season.
On 27 Apr 2023 it was reported that she had returned to play rugby league with Canberra Raiders Women in their inaugural season. She played in the Raiders 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Born in Rarotonga, Nicolls-Paualau represented the Cook Islands rugby sevens team before switching to rugby league.
In 2017, Nicholls-Paulau began playing for the Otahuhu Leopards in the Auckland Rugby League. Later that year, she was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup. She captained the team in a 50–4 win over Canada. On 2 December 2017, she started at fullback in New Zealand's final loss to Australia.
On 11 February 2018, she was named the NZRL Women's Player of the Year.
On 1 August 2018, she joined the New Zealand Warriors NRL Women's Premiership team. In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Warriors, kicking a goal in a 10–4 win over the Sydney Roosters.
In October 2019, Nicholls-Pualau was a member of New Zealand's 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s-winning squad.
In October 2022, she was selected for the New Zealand squad at the delayed 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup in England.
Nicholls-Pualau was signed by Chiefs Manawa for the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season. She rejoined the side for the 2024 season.
On 27 Apr 2023 it was reported that she had returned to play rugby league with Canberra Raiders Women in their inaugural season. She played in the Raiders 2023 and 2024 seasons.
