Masuisuimatama'ali'i 7.png

Player Masuisuimatama'ali'i Tauaua-Pauaraisa

Full Name
Masuisuimatama'ali'i Tauaua-Pauaraisa
Date of Birth
Oct 30, 1987
Birth Location
Motoʻotua, Samoa
Nationality
  1. 🇳🇿 New Zealand
  2. 🇼🇸 Samoa
Height (cm)
165 cm
Weight (kg)
70 kg
Position/s
  1. Second Row
  2. Lock
Nickname
Sui
Warrior #
17
NRL Debut Date
Sep 8, 2018
NRL Debut Details
NRLW 2018, Round 1, Sydney Roosters v NZ Warriors
Warriors Debut Date
Sep 8, 2018
Warriors Debut Details
NRLW 2018, Round 1, Sydney Roosters v NZ Warriors
Warriors Years Active
  1. 2018
College/s
McAuley High School
Signed From
Linwood Keas
Junior Club/s
Linwood Keas
Current Club
Melbourne Rebels RU
Rep Honours
  1. NZ
  2. Samoa
Status
Active
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masuisuimatama%27ali%27i_Tauaua-Pauaraisa
Rugby League Project
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/masuisuimatamaalii-tauaua-pauaraisa/teammates-nrlw.html

mt.wellington

Contributor

Masuisuimatama'alii "Sua" Tauaua-Pauaraisa (born 30 October 1987) is a Samoan rugby league and rugby sevens footballer who played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Women's Premiership.

She is a New Zealand and Samoa representative in rugby league and a Samoa representative in rugby union and sevens.

Born in Motoʻotua, Samoa, Tauaua-Pauaraisa moved to Auckland when she was 13, where she played rugby union for McAuley High School, Otahuhu, Auckland. In 2010, she moved to Christchurch.

In 2016, she began playing rugby league for the Linwood Keas. On 4 June 2018, Tauaua-Pauaraisa was named in the New Zealand train-on squad.

On 31 July 2018, she signed with 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 in a 10–4 win over the Sydney Roosters.

On 13 October 2018, she made her Test debut for New Zealand in a 24–26 loss to Australia at Mt Smart Stadium.

On 22 June 2019, Tauaua-Pauaraisa made her Test debut for Samoa, starting at second-row in a 8–46 loss to New Zealand.

Tauaua-Pauaraisa led the Manusina XVs side at the Oceania Rugby Championship in 2018.

Tauaua-Pauaraisa played for Canterbury in the Farah Palmer Cup. She competed at the Vailima Marist International Sevens in Samoa with the Christchurch Women's Rugby team in 2019. In 2021, she was named Tasman Mako FPC Player of the Year.

She led the Manusina side when they won their first Oceania title in 2023. In 2024, she made her fifth start for the Melbourne Rebels in the Super Rugby Women's competition.

In May 2024, she scored two tries for her side before being sent off the field against Tonga. She was cleared to play for Samoa in the final round of the Oceania Rugby Championship after she was initially cited for a high tackle in the match against Tonga. In September, she was selected in the Samoan side that competed at the WXV 3 competition in Dubai.

In July 2019, she captained the Samoa rugby sevens team at the 2019 Pacific Games.
 
NZWarriors.com

WARRIOR SUI FLYING THE FLAG FOR CANTERBURY​

By Will Evans on August 4, 2018

It’s been a watershed week for women’s rugby league in New Zealand with the announcement of the Warriors’ squad for the inaugural NRL Women’s Premiership.

And Masuisuimatamaalii ‘Sui’ Tauasa-Pauaraisa has carved out her own historic niche by becoming the first Canterbury player to feature in the competition, earning a contract in the 22-strong squad.

But amidst the hype and interest around the Warriors team and the NRL Women’s Premiership, Sui Pauaraisa is keeping her feet firmly planted on the ground.

“It is exciting and I can’t wait, but I’ve still got to do the job though,” Pauaraisa said.

“My Facebook, Snaps and everything are blasting up with all the messages, they’re all pretty happy now that (the team’s) finally out.”

The Linwood Keas back-rower – also a Canterbury rugby union rep in 2016-17 – is only in her third season of rugby league, but she has been included in the Kiwi Ferns wider squad in 2017-18 after standout campaigns for Canterbury for the past two seasons at the NZRL National Women’s Tournament.

She has been training with the Warriors for several weeks – flying up on Tuesday, going to training, then flying back Wednesday and heading straight to work as a clinical administrator with CDHB.

“Training up there is really cool, I’ve learned so much,” the 30-year-old enthused.

“Because I’m in the wider squad for the Kiwi Ferns as well, I know most of the girls.

“It’s a dream come true especially for the girls that have been playing for a long time. This is only my third year of league, but it’s a really good pathway.

“Especially the little ones – my little girl plays for Linwood Keas as well – (to see that) pathway, and it’s really good for all the women playing league at the moment.”

Pauaraisa could so easily have been part of a three-pronged Canterbury contingent in the team – Charntay Poko and 2017 Kiwi Ferns rep Corrina Whiley were on the cusp of Warriors contracts but were forced out of contention by injuries.

But despite the disappointment of her provincial teammates’ misfortune, she is stoked to be flying the flag for southern rugby league ladies.

“It’s pretty cool – ‘Canterbury hard’ at heart! It’s pretty special being the only one from the South Island.”

Being based in Christchurch, Pauaraisa has the most demanding travel schedule of any Warriors player. When the competition begins (September 7-9), she will be based in Auckland until the side’s last game – potentially on NRL grand final day (September 30).

But extended periods away from home for sport is nothing new for the 2016-18 Samoa Rugby Sevens rep – and family support on the home front takes care of the rest. It’s hard, but worth it.

“My husband (Mia) looks after my girls (Pine and Paia), he’s a massive support and I’m lucky to have him,” she said.

“It is a challenge, but I’m used to it. I’ve been travelling for the Rugby Sevens and I’ve been away for six weeks for a tour in Europe before.

“I always miss my girls and my family, but it’s an opportunity that only comes once so I’ve got to make the most of it.”

Typical of Pauaraisa’s competitive nature, she still hopes to play in the CRL women’s premiership grand final on August 26 if the Keas make it – despite being required for the Warriors’ warm-up game against an Auckland Invitational side the previous day.

“I’m trying to come back on Saturday to be here for the game on Sunday, but we’ll see what (coach) Luisa (Avaiki) says.”

Kiwi Ferns legend and Warriors women’s coach Luisa Avaiki revealed Sui Pauaraisa has been a permanent fixture on the club’s radar.

Pauaraisa’s commitment and professionalism in the face of the obstacle of living an hour-and-a-half flight away convinced Avaiki that she had what it took to play a key role in the Warriors’ maiden campaign.

“Sui was identified from nationals and made the wider Kiwi Ferns squad, which gave her an advantage,” Avaiki said.

“She was also identified last year and was in the Ferns’ wider squad so we knew a bit about her before (this year’s) tournament.

“She had been able to maintain consistency in her game-play, in her conditioning and the way she kept herself fit.

“The elements she brings into a game for her team – being fit, being strong, quick and she’s got a really good work ethic.

“She’s been consistent, she’s really self-motivated. It’s harder for her because she’s not in Auckland, so she has to do a lot of that (training and fitness) herself.”

Avaiki also praised Pauaraisa’s support network in assisting her to keep up the required standards.

“We’re trusting that she’s doing what she needs to do, and she’s also got a program that she’s been given by the head trainer of the Kiwi Ferns. But she’s got really good people in her club that support her at that level, her club coach and people around the club.

“She’s not entirely left alone down there, she’s got a lot of support which is great, it’s been really helpful for us as well to help keep Sui accountable. But she’s one of those players that is really driven in terms of making sure she is at the level she needs to be to really compete.

“She totally earned her spot, from the inclusion into the training squad. She’s been really hard-working, turned up to training with a really great attitude, willing to work, do what it takes to be there.

“Sui fits into our team in terms of what she offers as a strong-running forward. Very mobile, an ability to carry the ball strongly but also her work ethic on defence.”

Avaiki lamented the unavailability of Poko and Whiley, but said the door was still ajar for the injured duo.

If any of the contracted 22 players are ruled out before or during the competition, the Papanui Tigers duo will come into the frame – provided they have recovered sufficiently themselves.

“Charntay and Corrina have been added to our wider list as development players, so there is an opportunity for them later on.

“It depends on how well their injuries heal. We’ve got another six weeks until the competition. They were serious contenders for those contracts.”

Avaiki believes the fact three Canterbury players could potentially have claimed spots in the Warriors’ squad is a fantastic sign for women’s rugby league in the region.

Few are as qualified to comment as the 1995 Kiwi Ferns original and three-time World Cup-winning captain.

“Canterbury traditionally in the past has produced some really strong rugby league players,” she said.

“We’ve had many Kiwi Ferns players to come out of Canterbury and it’s always going to be an area we have to consider and look into. We know the talent is there, but possibly not the opportunity for those girls to get a lot of experience at the level needed to be competitive.

“But there’s definitely the potential and the talent pool there (of players) that are good enough to compete.”

 
NZWarriors.com
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Samoa rugby star thanks her husband for supporting her career​

6:59 am on 2 July 2019

More than 3500 athletes from 24 nations in Oceania will gather in Samoa on 7 July for the Pacific Games - the biggest sporting event in the Pacific region.
Meet the Athletes is a series by Pacific Media Network that hears from some of the competitors heading to the games.

"I take off my hat to my husband, he gives me support to train, he takes care of the girls as I travel a lot. He's the most supportive person I know," Sui Pauaraisa who is representing Samoa in sevens.


View: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=465717210846316

 

Manusina wins game, turn focus on women's meet in Dubai​

5:04 pm on 17 September 2024
Iliesa Tora, Senior Sports Journalist
Masuisuimatama'ali'i 9.png
Manusima celebrating their win against Australia A. Photo: Lakapi Samoa. Photo: Lakapi Samoa

Manusina Samoa turn their focus to the upcoming WXVs competition in Dubai after they defeated Australia A 20-17 on Apia Park, on Monday evening.
They are scheduled to meet Fiji, Hong Kong China, Samoa and Spain from 27 September.

Monday's clash against Australia A marked playing their first home game since 2009.

Samoa Observer said the game was a tight one, with the teams tied 12-12 at halftime.

Both teams then scored a try each in the second spell but the winner for the home team was flyhalf Cassie Siatoga.

The flyhalf slotted the ball in between the uprights and over the crossbar to give her team a much-celebrated win.

Masuisuimatamaalii (Sui) Tauasa Pauaraisa, who previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Women's Premiership, captained the Samaon side.

She will also lead the side to Dubai, where they will also be fighting to win a spot at the 2026 Rugby World Cup.

"Words never describe the feeling of playing your first-ever Manusina game for your country in front of our beloved people," she said.

"It was a huge honour and privilege to lead and captain our Manusina team in Samoa and an awesome opportunity to get in a quality match and showcase the many talented Tama'ita'i [women] in Samoa through rugby.

"Thank you to Australia. It was a great game. The win was not easy. I want to thank all the Manusina players, their families and the coaches who believed in us.

"We take this victory and look forward to the next step in our journey."

The match was also culmination of a week-long tour the Australia A team undertook in Samoa.

The tour was by the PacificAus Sports program.

Jilly Collins, General Manager of Women's Rugby at Rugby Australia, said it was an experience for the Australia A players.

"We're delighted that our PacificAus Sports partnership with the Australian Government will support an Australia A women's team tour to Samoa," Collins said.

"Playing against Manusina will provide a unique and enriching experience for all involved and further strengthen our women's rugby partnership with Samoa."

Lakapi Samoa chief executive officer Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea'i said playing the Australia A and competing at the WXV3 tournament are important steppingstones for Manusima, towards qualification for the Women's Rugby World Cup, to be held in England next year.

"We want to acknowledge the support of the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports in making this fixture a reality," he said.

"Without this … it would have been extremely tough for [the] Manusina to have some meaningful competition before attempting to qualify for the Women's Rugby World Cup. Having a first-class fixture in Samoa greatly boosts our women's game."

 

ACT Brumbies​

Melbourne Rebels​

1Melehifo allana Sikimeti (FR)1Ana Mamea (FR)
2Tania Naden (VC) (FR)2Jayme Nuku (FR)
3Iroha Kishimoto (FR)3Jiowana Sauto (FR)
4Kate Holland4Easter Savelio
5Ashley Fernandez5Tiarah Minns
6Siokapesi Palu (C)6Melanie Kawa
7Katalina Amosa (FR)7 Masuisuimatamaalii Tauasa Pauaraisa
8Tabua Tuinakauvadra8Grace Hamilton
9Jasmin Huriwai9Lucy Brown
10Faitala Moleka10Cassie Siataga
11Jemima McCalman (VC)11Chanelle Kohika-Skipper
12Kayla Sauvao12Ashley Marsters (C) (FR)
13Harmony Ioane13Harmony Vatau-Tuai
14Kolora Rosi Lomani14Name Witheld
15Ashlea Bishop15Crystal Mayes
16Erika Maslen (FR)16Mary Tuaana (FR)
17Sally Fuesaina (FR)17Laiema Bosenavulagi (FR)
18Iris Verebalavu (FR)18Paula Ioane (FR)
19Loretta Mailangi19Sydney Niupulusu
20Lydia Ratu Kavoa20Laetitia Bobo
21Chioma Enyi21Millicent Scutt
22Kyah Little22Grace Freeman
23Biola Dawa23Teuila Pritchard
Scott FavaJason Rogers

 
NZWarriors.com
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Bit of confusion about Masuisuimatama'ali'i surname with half saying Tauaua while the other half are saying Tauasa. So its either:

Masuisuimatama'ali'i Tauaua-Pauaraisa

or

Masuisuimatama'ali'i Tauasa-Pauaraisa...
 
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