{{short description|England & Samoa international rugby union player (born 1998)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Jacob Umaga | image = File:BKT URC 25-26- Zebre Parma vs Benetton Rugby-360 (cropped).jpg | caption = Umaga with Benetton in December 2025 | birth_name = Jacob Ionatana Falefasa Umaga | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1998|7|8}} | birth_place = Halifax, West Yorkshire, England | height = {{height|m=1.82}} | weight = {{convert|91|kg|stlb lb}} | relatives = Mike Umaga (father)<br>Tana Umaga (uncle)<br>Thomas Umaga-Jensen (cousin)<br>Peter Umaga-Jensen (cousin)<br>Jerry Collins (cousin-once-removed) | school = Kenilworth School | currentclub = Benetton | position = Fly-half | years1 = 2016–2022 | clubs1 = Wasps | apps1 = 72 | points1 = 379 | years2 = 2016 | clubs2 = → Hinckley ''(loan)'' | apps2 = 11 | points2 = 25 | years3 = 2016–2017 | clubs3 = → Broadstreet ''(loan)'' | apps3 = | points3 = | years4 = 2019 | clubs4 = → Yorkshire Carnegie ''(loan)'' | apps4 = 5 | points4 = 24 | years5 = 2018 | clubs5 = Auckland | apps5 = 9 | points5 = 2 | years6 = 2022− | clubs6 = Benetton | apps6 = 76 | points6 = 375 | clubupdate = 28 November 2025 | repyears1 = 2016 | repteam1 = England U18s | repcaps1 = 14 | reppoints1 = 30 | repyears2 = 2017 | repteam2 = England U20s | repcaps2 = 8 | reppoints2 = 22 | repyears3 = 2021 | repteam3 = England | repcaps3 = 1 | reppoints3 = 0 | repyears4 = 2025− | repteam4 = Samoa | repcaps4 = 4 | reppoints4 = 34 | repupdate = 18 November 2025 }} '''Jacob Umaga''' (born 8 July 1998) is a professional Samoan rugby union player who plays at fly-half for Italian United Rugby Championship side Benetton.<ref name=its>{{cite web|url= http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-36557.html|title= Player profile|publisher=itsrugby.co.uk|accessdate= 23 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://benettonrugby.it/jacob-umaga-firma-col-benetton-rugby-sino-al-2024/|title=JACOB UMAGA FIRMA COL BENETTON RUGBY SINO AL 2024|website=Benetton Rugby|date=14 November 2022|access-date=14 November 2022}}</ref> A one-cap international for England in 2021, Umaga switched to represent the Samoan national team in 2025 qualifying on ancestry grounds.<ref name="Samoa">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/c2d5wj38ln6o|title=Samoa call up one-cap England back Umaga|first=Mike|last=Henson|work=BBC Sport|date=10 June 2025|access-date=27 June 2025}}</ref>
==Early life== Umaga was born in Halifax.<ref name="yp">{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/twenty-five-years-after-joining-halifax-mike-umaga-still-calls-yorkshire-home-2521262|title=Twenty five years after joining Halifax, Mike Umaga still calls Yorkshire home|first=David|last=Craven|website=Yorkshire Post|date=28 March 2020|access-date=20 September 2022}}</ref> His father, Mike Umaga, won 13 caps for Samoa, his uncle Tana Umaga played 74 times for New Zealand and captained the All Blacks, and his father's cousin was the late Jerry Collins.<ref name="yp"/><ref name="ct">{{cite news |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/england-squad-announcement-jacob-umaga-17596499|title=Jacob Umaga: England Six Nations call-up for Wasps youngster - all you need to know|first=Bobby|last=Bridge|website=Coventry Telegraph|date=20 January 2020|access-date=20 September 2022}}</ref>
Umaga was educated at Kenilworth School and Sports College and played youth rugby for Kenilworth RFC.<ref name="ct2">{{cite news |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/jacob-umaga-wasps-rugby-news-17955782|title=Jacob Umaga's rise to the top - from the men who helped guide him|first=Bobby|last=Bridge|website=Coventry Telegraph|date=22 March 2020|access-date=20 September 2022}}</ref> He supports rugby league team Bradford Bulls.<ref name="lwos">{{cite news |url=https://lastwordonsports.com/rugby/2019/11/28/who-is-jacob-umaga/|title=Who is Jacob Umaga?|first=Charlie|last=Hynes|website=Last Word on Sports|date=28 November 2019|access-date=20 September 2022}}</ref>
==Club career== Umaga was originally a member of the Leicester Tigers academy but left to join Wasps at the age of eighteen.<ref name="ct3">{{cite news |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/jacob-umaga-england-rugby-wasps-17655604|title='Heart of steel' - Jacob Umaga cut his teeth at Hinckley and Broadstreet on his journey to England Rugby call-up|first=Bobby|last=Bridge|website=Coventry Telegraph|date=30 January 2020|access-date=20 September 2022}}</ref> He represented Hinckley RFC in National League 2 North during the 2016–17 campaign scoring five tries in eleven appearances, including an individual try at Preston Grasshoppers.<ref name="ct3"/> In 2018, Umaga was part of the Auckland squad that won the Mitre Cup.<ref name="ct"/> The following year saw him loaned to Yorkshire Carnegie for the 2018–19 RFU Championship.<ref name="ct"/>
In October 2020, Umaga scored a try for Wasps as they lost to Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership final to finish runners up.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54661068|title=Premiership Final: Exeter beat Wasps 19-13 to secure historic double|first=Brent|last=Pilnick|work=BBC Sport|date=24 October 2020|accessdate=20 September 2022}}</ref>
Umaga was made redundant along with every other Wasps player and coach when the team entered administration on 17 October 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bridge |first=Bobby |date=2022-10-17 |title=Wasps' administration confirmed as 167 employees made redundant |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/wasps-administration-confirmed-club-statement-25282848 |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=CoventryLive |language=en}}</ref> He instead signed a two-year deal with Italy region Benetton in the URC from the 2022-23 season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/jacob-umaga-signs-for-italian-urc-side-benetton/|work=Rugby Pass |title=Jacob Umaga signs for Italian URC side Benetton |date=14 November 2022|accessdate=16 November 2022}}</ref> His stay was later extended to 2026.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/england-fly-half-jacob-umaga-extends-stay-in-italy/|work=Rugby Pass |title=England fly-half Jacob Umaga extends stay in Italy |date=4 January 2024|accessdate=4 September 2024}}</ref>
==International career== ===England=== Umaga was a member of the England Under-20 side that completed a grand slam during the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38904850|title=Under-20 Six Nations: Wales U20 21-37 England U20|work=BBC Sport|date=10 February 2017|access-date=20 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39304179|title=Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland U20s 10-14 England U20s|work=BBC Sport|date=17 March 2017|access-date=20 September 2022}}</ref> Later that year, he started for the side that finished runners up to New Zealand in the final of the 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/06/18/england-vs-new-zealand-u20-world-cup-final-live-score-updates/|url-access=subscription|title=England 17 New Zealand 64: Baby Blacks seal Under 20 World Cup with emphatic victory|first=Kate|last=Rowan|website=The Daily Telegraph|date=18 June 2017|accessdate=20 September 2022}}</ref>
In January 2020, Umaga received his first call-up to the senior England squad by coach Eddie Jones for the 2020 Six Nations Championship.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51173798|title=Six Nations 2020: England call up eight uncapped players|first=Chris|last=Jones|work=BBC Sport|date=20 January 2020|accessdate=20 January 2020}}</ref> On 4 July 2021, Umaga won his only cap for England off the bench in a 43–29 victory against the United States.<ref>{{cite news|title=England 43-29 United States|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57714219|first=Becky|last=Grey|work=BBC Sport|date=4 July 2021|access-date=20 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2021/07/04/england-v-usa-summer-test-2021-lives-score-latest-updates/|url-access=subscription|title=Seven tries and 12 Test debuts in win over USA but bigger challenges await England|first=Charlie|last=Morgan|website=The Daily Telegraph|date=4 July 2021|accessdate=7 December 2021}}</ref>
===Samoa=== Having not played for England since 2021, Umaga was called up for the Samoan national team in 2025, for which he qualifies by ancestry.<ref name="Samoa" /> On 18 July 2025, Umaga made his first appearance for Samoa starting in a defeat against Scotland at Eden Park.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/45768140/samoa-12-41-scotland-no-lions-no-problem-seven-try-rout|title=Samoa 12-41 Scotland: No Lions, no problem in seven-try rout|website=ESPN|date=18 July 2025|access-date=1 December 2025}}</ref>
In November 2025, Umaga scored his first international try in a victory over Brazil during the 2027 Mens World Cup Qualification tournament.<ref name="Brazil">{{Cite web|url=https://www.world.rugby/media-zone/advisory/1018325|title=Samoa and Belgium make winning starts in Dubai|publisher=World Rugby|date=8 November 2025|access-date=1 December 2025}}</ref> In their last game in Dubai he contributed eight points in a draw against Belgium which secured their place at the world cup.<ref name="Belgium">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/crl2g973lkgo|title=Samoa survive huge Belgium scare to reach World Cup|first=Timothy|last=Abraham|work=BBC Sport|date=18 November 2025|access-date=1 December 2025}}</ref>
===List of international tries=== ''As of 8 November 2025''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Umaga|url=https://all.rugby/player/jacob-umaga|access-date=1 December 2025|website=AllRugby}}</ref> {{International goals header}} |- |style="text-align:center;"|1 |8 November 2025 |The Sevens Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |{{ru|BRA}} |style="text-align:center;"|5–0 |{{win|48–10}} |2027 Rugby World Cup Final Qualification Tournament |style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Brazil"/> |- |}
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
== External links == * [http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/294144.html ESPN Profile] * [https://www.englandrugby.com/england/senior-men/squad/jacob-umaga RFU Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301142142/https://www.englandrugby.com/england/senior-men/squad/jacob-umaga |date=1 March 2020 }}
{{Benetton squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Umaga, Jacob}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:England international rugby union players Category:English people of Samoan descent Category:English people of New Zealand descent Category:English rugby union players Category:Leeds Tykes players Category:Rugby union fly-halves Category:Rugby union players from Halifax, West Yorkshire Category:Wasps RFC players Category:Auckland rugby union players Category:Benetton Rugby players Jacob Category:English expatriate rugby union players in Italy Category:Samoa international rugby union players Category:21st-century English sportsmen