{{short description|NZ international rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2018}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Atu Moli | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Atunaisa Moli | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|06|12|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]], [[New Zealand]] | height = {{convert|189|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|127|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}} | school = [[Marlborough Boys' College]] | university = [[University of Waikato]] | relatives = [[Monu Moli]] (brother), [[Sam Moli]] (brother) | occupation = | spouse = | position = [[Prop (rugby union)|Prop]] | currentclub = {{rut|Moana Pasifika}} | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2015–2018 | clubs1 = {{rut|Waikato}} | apps1 = 18 | points1 = 15 | years2 = 2016–2023 | clubs2 = [[Chiefs (rugby union)|Chiefs]] | apps2 = 55 | points2 = 15 | years3 = 2019–2023 | clubs3 = {{rut|Tasman}} | apps3 = 15 | points3 = 0 | years4 = 2024–2025 | clubs4 = [[Western Force]] | apps4 = 10 | points4 = 0 | years5 = 2026– | clubs5 = {{rut|Moana Pasifika}} | apps5 = 7 | points5 = 0 | repyears1 = 2014–2015 | repteam1 = [[New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team|New Zealand U20]] | repcaps1 = 12 | reppoints1 = 0 | repyears2 = 2017 | repteam2 = [[Barbarian F.C.]] | repcaps2 = 1 | reppoints2 = 0 | repyears3 = 2017–2019 | repteam3 = [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] | repcaps3 = 5 | reppoints3 = 0 | clubupdate = 31 May 2026 | repupdate = 31 May 2026 }}
'''Atunaisa Moli''' (born 12 June 1995) is a [[New Zealanders|New Zealand]] [[Rugby Union|rugby union]] player who currently plays as a [[Prop (rugby union)|Prop]].<ref name="Atu Moli itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics">{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_32268.html | title=Atu Moli itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics | work=itsrugby.co.uk | access-date=8 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="Chiefs sign New Zealand Under-20s captain Atu Moli on two-year deal">{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/71391164/chiefs-sign-new-zealand-under20s-captain-atu-moli-on-twoyear-deal | title=Chiefs sign New Zealand Under-20s captain Atu Moli on two-year deal | work=Stuff.co.nz | date = 25 August 2015 | access-date=28 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Chiefs 2017 Squad Guide">{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Chiefs-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | title=Chiefs 2017 Squad Guide | publisher=All Blacks.com | access-date=8 December 2016 | archive-date=11 May 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511031335/http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Chiefs-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chiefs.co.nz/player/atunaisa-moli|title=Atu Moli|website=chiefs.co.nz|access-date=25 May 2021}}</ref> He has represented the New Zealand national rugby union team the [[New Zealand national rugby union team|All Blacks]].<ref name="allblacks">{{cite web |title=Atu Moli #1168 |url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=1168 |website=All Blacks |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
Starting his career as a Tighthead Prop, Moli converted to Loosehead Prop during his professional career. Moli made his debut for New Zealand in 2017, earning a recall in 2019 after a spell of injury and made their team for the [[2019 Rugby World Cup]].
==Early career== Moli was born in the [[North Island]] town of Gisborne, but attended [[Marlborough Boys' College]] in the [[South Island]] town of [[Blenheim, New Zealand|Blenheim]]. He is of [[Tongans|Tongan]] descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/editors-picks/9512962/Moli-on-his-way-to-the-top|title=Moli on his way to the top |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |date=16 December 2013}}</ref> While attending college, he represented [[Marlborough Rugby Union|Marlborough]] at under 16 and {{rut|Tasman}} at under 18 level before moving to [[Waikato Rugby Union|Waikato]] after graduation and representing them at under 19 level.
==Senior career== Moli debuted for Waikato during the [[2015 ITM Cup]] in a match against {{rut|Tasman}} on 14 August after starring as a school boy. Hindered by a foot injury, he only played 6 games during his first season of provincial level rugby, 2 of which were from the start. [[2016 Mitre 10 Cup|2016]] again saw him make 6 appearances, this time however, they were all from the start as he began to make the number 1 jersey his own.<ref name="Atu Moli itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics"/><ref name="Chiefs prop Atu Moli riding the wave in his first season of Super Rugby">{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/82079646/chiefs-prop-atu-moli-riding-the-wave-in-his-first-season-of-super-rugby | title=Chiefs prop Atu Moli riding the wave in his first season of Super Rugby | publisher=Rugby Heaven | date = 16 July 2016 | access-date=8 December 2016}}</ref> In [[2019 Mitre 10 Cup|2019]] Moli made his debut for {{rut|Tasman}} against {{rut|Manawatu}} at [[Lansdowne Park, Blenheim|Lansdowne Park]] in [[Blenheim, New Zealand|Blenheim]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mako.nz/atunaisa-atu-moli|title=Atunaisa (Atu) Moli|website=mako.nz|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref> Moli missed the [[2020 Mitre 10 Cup]] with injury as the Mako went on to win their second premiership title in a row.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300031602/all-blacks-prop-atu-moli-ruled-out-for-2020-season-due-to-double-surgery-for-chronic-hip-dysfunction|title=All Blacks prop Atu Moli ruled out for 2020 season due to double surgery for chronic hip disfunction |website=stuff.co.nz|access-date=5 December 2020}}</ref> He played for the Mako during the [[2021 Bunnings NPC]] but again suffered an injury before the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/300458286/year-of-the-broken-bone-beaten-up-tasman-mako-eye-npc-threepeat|title='Year of the broken bone': Beaten up Tasman Mako eye NPC three-peat|website=stuff.co.nz|access-date=21 November 2021}}</ref>
==Super Rugby== After just 6 games at provincial level, Moli made the Chiefs Super Rugby squad for the [[2016 Super Rugby season]],<ref name="Chiefs sign New Zealand Under-20s captain Atu Moli on two-year deal"/> debuting in a match against the {{Rut|Southern Kings}} in [[Port Elizabeth]]. A season ending injury to [[Nepo Laulala]] meant that he received more game time during his debut season than he might have otherwise expected, playing 10 times and scoring 1 try.<ref name="Atu Moli itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics"/> He was retained by the side for the [[2017 Super Rugby season]].
Moli missed the whole [[2018 Super Rugby season]] due to a leg injury. He forced his way back into the first choice team during the [[2019 Super Rugby season]], establishing himself as one of the Chiefs best performers during the season.
After over a year injured Moli returned to the Chiefs side in Round 2 of the [[Super Rugby Trans-Tasman]] competition, coming off the bench in a 40–19 win for the side - however that was the only match he played during the [[2021 Super Rugby season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/molis-return-bolsters-chiefs-for-brumbies-clash/|title=Moli's return bolsters Chiefs for Brumbies clash|website=www.superrugby.co.nz|access-date=20 June 2021}}</ref>
==International== Moli represented [[New Zealand national schoolboy rugby union team|New Zealand Schools]] in 2013 and was a member of the [[New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team|New Zealand Under 20]] teams which competed in the [[2014 IRB Junior World Championship|2014]] and [[2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship]]s. He appeared 5 times as New Zealand finished third in 2014 and made another 5 appearances, this time as captain as the Kiwis lifted the title in 2015 with a 21–16 victory over England in the final.<ref name="NZU20 squad named for IRB JWC2014">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/24842/nzu20-squad-named-for-irb-jwc2014 | title=NZU20 squad named for IRB JWC2014 | work=All Blacks.com | date=23 April 2014 | access-date=8 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112212/http://www.allblacks.com/News/24842/nzu20-squad-named-for-irb-jwc2014 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="NZ Under 20 squad named for World Champs in Italy">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/news/27229/nz-under-20-squad-named-for-world-champs-in-italy | title=NZ Under 20 squad named for World Champs in Italy | work=All Blacks.com | date=12 May 2015 | access-date=8 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203123335/http://www.allblacks.com/news/27229/nz-under-20-squad-named-for-world-champs-in-italy | archive-date=3 December 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="2013 NZ Schools team named">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/23290/2013-nz-schools-team-named | title=2013 NZ Schools team named | work=All Blacks.com | date=16 September 2013 | access-date=8 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203125957/http://www.allblacks.com/News/23290/2013-nz-schools-team-named | archive-date=3 December 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
Moli was selected as a non playing "Apprentice" in the All Blacks squad for the [[2017 Rugby Championship]]. Moli was only the third New Zealander to be selected for the All Blacks as an apprentice, following [[Ardie Savea]] who was an apprentice in 2013 and [[Jordie Barrett]] who held the title in 2016. After injuries to [[Joe Moody (rugby union)|Joe Moody]] and [[Owen Franks]], the All Blacks coaches had to seek more depth for the end of year tour. This meant that after starting in a 31–22 loss against the All Blacks for the Barbarians coached by [[Robbie Deans]] on 4 November, Moli joined the All Blacks squad again, making his debut for New Zealand against a French side 10 days later, replacing [[Tim Perry (rugby union)|Tim Perry]] with 23 minutes left. Moli was one of six players to make their All Blacks debut in the 28–23 win.<ref name="allblacks"/>
In 2019, Moli was recalled into the All Blacks squad, named to play Argentina at Jose Amalfitani Stadium (Estadio Velez Sarsfield) in Buenos Aires on Saturday 20 July as part of [[The Rugby Championship]]. He made his test debut in the 60th minute of the game, replacing [[Ofa Tu'ungafasi]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/all-blacks-deny-argentina-famous-victory-in-buenos-aires-win-rugby-championship-opener|title=All Blacks deny Argentina famous victory in Buenos Aires to win Rugby Championship opener|work=TVNZ|access-date=2019-07-21|language=en-NZ}}</ref> With experienced props, [[Karl Tu'inukuafe]] and [[Owen Franks]], axed from the team, Moli also earned an appearance off the bench against Australia during a 26–47 loss.
In August 2019, Moli was named in the All Blacks squad for the [[2019 Rugby World Cup]]. Moli earned his first start for the All Blacks in the sides 63–0 win over Canada, lasting the whole 80 minutes of the test.<ref name="allblacks"/> Moli played one more test during the competition, coming off the bench against Wales in the Bronze Final, with New Zealand winning 40–17 to claim third place.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{sport links}}
{{Moana Pasifika squad}} {{New Zealand Squad 2019 Rugby World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moli, Atunaisa}} [[Category:1995 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Moli brothers|Atu Moli]] [[Category:Barbarian F.C. players]] [[Category:Chiefs (Super Rugby) players]] [[Category:New Zealand international rugby union players]] [[Category:New Zealand people of Tongan descent]] [[Category:Sportspeople of Tongan descent]] [[Category:New Zealand rugby union players]] [[Category:People educated at Marlborough Boys' College]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Gisborne, New Zealand]] [[Category:Rugby union props]] [[Category:Tasman rugby union players]] [[Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen]] [[Category:University of Waikato alumni]] [[Category:Waikato rugby union players]] [[Category:2019 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:Western Force players]] [[Category:Moana Pasifika players]]