Freedom Vaha'akolo (born 18 July 1997)[1] is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a wing for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship (NPC) competition.[2]
| Date of birth | 18 July 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Auckland Grammar School, Massey High School, Mount Albert Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Katelyn Vaha'akolo (sister) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby league career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vaha'akolo previously played for the Highlanders in Super Rugby. He was for the first time announced in the Highlanders side for Round 5 of the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season.[3]
He has also represented Otago in the NPC from 2020 to 2022.[4][5]
Vaha'akolo also played rugby league. In 2023, he joined the Point Chevalier Pirates rugby league club in Auckland, debuting for them on 15 April 2023. He played 16 games for them scoring 12 tries making him the second equal highest try scorer in Fox Memorial games for the season. Vaha'akolo was then selected for the Auckland Vulcans representative side, playing four games and scoring three tries in the New Zealand Rugby League Premiership competition. One of his tries came in the 70-6 win over Counties-Manukau in the final.[6][7]
References
edit- ^ "Freedom Vahaakolo". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ "Magpies 2024 NPC squad confirmed". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union (Press release). 29 July 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ "Speights Highlanders to play the Hurricanes" (Press release). Highlanders. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ "Otago name Nasi Manu, Josh Hohneck and Jamie Mackintosh in squad". stuff.co.nz. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ^ "2022 Otago squad announced for Bunnings NPC". Otago Rugby (Press release). 12 July 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ "Pirates Premiers vs Bears". Auckland Rugby League. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "Counties Manukau vs Auckland Vulcans". Auckland Rugby League. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
External links
edit- NZ Rugby History profile
- Freedom Vaha'akolo at ItsRugby.co.uk
