{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Short description|Australian rugby union player (born 1989)}} {{Infobox rugby biography | image = Liz Patu August 2018.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Liz Patu walking onto the pitch to play against New Zealand, August 2018 | birth_date ={{birth date and age|1989|07|15|df=yes}} | birth_place =Auckland, New Zealand | height =1.68 m | weight =94 kg | ru_currentposition =Prop | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | amatapps1 = | amatpoints1 = | years1 = | clubs1 =Queensland Reds | apps1 = | points1 =0 | repyears1 =2014–2022 | repteam1 ={{ruw|AUS}} | repcaps1 =33 | reppoints1 =0 }} '''Liz Patu''' (born 15 July 1989) is an Australian rugby union player. She appeared in three Rugby World Cups for Australia, in 2014, 2017 and at the delayed 2021 tournament. She played Prop for the Queensland Reds in the Super W competition.
== Early life == Patu was born in Auckland but was raised in her native Samoa. She later migrated to Australia in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rugby: Our Samoan International Women Captains around the world|url=https://www.thecoconet.tv/the-coconettv-series/women-in-sport/rugby-our-samoan-international-women-captains-1/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=www.thecoconet.tv}}</ref>
== Rugby career == Patu She made her international debut against New Zealand in 2014.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2018-08-13 |title=Liz Patu confirmed as Buildcorp Wallaroos captain for 2018 |url=https://australia.rugby/news/2018/11/19/laz-patu-confirmed-as-buildcorp-wallaroos-captain-for-2018 |access-date=2022-02-21 |website=australia.rugby |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2018-08-13 |title=Patu takes the armband |url=https://thewomensgame.com/news/patu-takes-the-armband-500122 |access-date=2022-02-21 |website=The Women's Game}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Woods |first=Melissa |date=2022-05-09 |title=Liz Patu becomes most capped Wallaroo |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7730389/liz-patu-becomes-most-capped-wallaroo/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU}}</ref> She was selected for the Wallaroos 2014 Rugby World Cup squad.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-06-16|title=Wallaroos finalise Women's Rugby World Cup squad|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2016/02/12/wallaroos-finalise-womens-rugby-world-cup-squad|access-date=2022-02-22|website=rugby.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-03-18|title=Wallaroos name 15 uncapped players for World Cup|language=en-AU|work=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-18/wallaroos-name-15-uncapped-players-for-world-cup/5329584|access-date=2022-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-03-18|title=ARU names women's World Cup squad|url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/15334731/aru-names-women-world-cup-squad|access-date=2022-02-21|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}</ref> She also competed at the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2017-06-28|title=Seven NSW Women named in Wallaroos Squad for 2017 World Cup Campaign|url=https://nsw.rugby/news/2019/11/22/seven-nsw-women-named-in-wallaroos-squad-for-2017-world-cup-campaign|access-date=2022-02-21|website=nsw.rugby|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=28 June 2017|title=Two New Caps Included In Australia's WRWC 2017 Squad|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2017/06/28/two-new-caps-included-in-australias-wrwc-2017-squad/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=Irish Rugby|language=en-US}}</ref>
Patu played against Japan who had not played a game since 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 July 2019|title=Wallaroos excited for match against Japan - who haven't played a game since 2017|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/wallaroos-excited-for-match-against-japan-who-havent-played-a-game-since-2017/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=www.rugbypass.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-07-19|title=Buildcorp Wallaroos clean sweep Japan|url=https://australia.rugby/news/2019/07/19/wallaroos-win-over-japan|access-date=2022-02-21|website=australia.rugby|language=en}}</ref> In 2018 she was named as captain ahead of their Test series against New Zealand.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tiernan |first=Eamonn |date=2018-08-13 |title=Kiwi-born Liz Patu named new Wallaroos skipper |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/kiwi-born-liz-patu-named-new-wallaroos-skipper-20180813-p4zx55.html |access-date=2022-02-21 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 August 2018 |title=PREVIEW: Black Ferns v Wallaroos first Test |url=http://nz.rugby/news/preview-black-ferns-v-wallaroos-first-test/ |access-date=2022-02-21 |website=allblacks.com |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=23 August 2018|title=PREVIEW: Black Ferns v Wallaroos second Test|url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/preview-black-ferns-v-wallaroos-second-test/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=allblacks.com|language=en-NZ}}</ref> She featured again for Australia in 2019 against New Zealand in two test matches.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 August 2019|title=PREVIEW: Black Ferns v Wallaroos (Perth)|url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/preview-black-ferns-v-wallaroos-perth/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=allblacks.com|language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=15 August 2019|title=PREVIEW: Black Ferns v Australia (Auckland)|url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/preview-black-ferns-v-australia-auckland/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=allblacks.com|language=en-NZ}}</ref>
In 2019 Patu was given a six-week ban for biting Wallaroos team-mate Rebecca Clough in a Super W match.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 March 2019|title=Patu cops six week suspension|url=https://thewomensgame.com/news/patu-cops-six-week-suspension-520101|access-date=2022-02-21|website=The Women's Game}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=5 March 2019|title=New Zealand-born Australian women's rugby captain Liz Patu banned for six weeks for biting|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/new-zealand-born-australian-womens-rugby-captain-liz-patu-banned-for-six-weeks-for-biting/SOQHPB3427PZWESHIB6AJR3MQQ/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Greenwood|first=Emma|date=2020-02-21|title=Remorse, reform and renewal: Why Red Liz Patu won't be defined by mistake|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/02/21/superw-reds-patu|access-date=2022-02-22|website=rugby.com.au}}</ref>
Patu was named in Australia's squad for the 2022 Pacific Four Series in New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williamson |first=Nathan |date=2022-05-19 |title=Wallaroos announce squad for Pacific Four |url=https://wallaroos.rugby/news/wallaroos-announce-squad-for-pacific-four-2022518 |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=wallaroos.rugby |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Woods |first=Melissa |date=2022-05-19 |title=Nine new Wallaroos for Pacific Four rugby |url=https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-union/nine-new-wallaroos-for-pacific-four-rugby-c-6857873 |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=7NEWS |language=en}}</ref> She was named in the Wallaroos squad for a two-test series against the Black Ferns for the Laurie O'Reilly Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-02 |title=Wallaroos name 32-player squad |url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/34332701/wallaroos-name-32-player-squad |access-date=2022-08-14 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-02 |title=Maya Stewart, Emily Robinson, and Asatasi Lafai named in Wallaroos squad to face Black Ferns |url=https://nsw.rugby/news/maya-stewart-emily-robinson-and-asatasi-lafai-named-in-wallaroos-squad-to-face-black-ferns-202281 |access-date=2022-08-14 |website=nsw.rugby |language=en}}</ref>
Patu appeared in her third, and final, Rugby World Cup when she was selected in the team for the delayed tournament in New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williamson |first=Nathan |date=2022-09-07 |title=Wallaroos confirm Rugby World Cup squad |url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/wallaroos-confirm-rugby-world-cup-squad-202296 |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=www.rugby.com.au |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Worthington |first=Sam |date=2022-09-07 |title=Rugby stars to play two World Cups in a month |url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/rugby/world-cup-news-australia-wallaroos-squad-named-for-2022-tournament-in-new-zealand/871b6c3a-ce93-400f-abee-0019e35668fe |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=wwos.nine.com.au |language=en}}</ref> She later announced her retirement from the Wallaroos in December.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williamson |first=Nathan |date=2022-12-14 |title=Liz Patu confirms retirement from Wallaroos |url=https://wallaroos.rugby/news/liz-patu-confirms-retirement-from-wallaroos-20221214 |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=wallaroos.rugby |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Worthington |first=Sam |date=2022-12-15 |title=Aussie great calls time on 'extraordinary' career |url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/rugby/australia-news-2022-wallaroos-great-liz-patu-retires-from-test-matches/f754d7fd-86ed-48d0-b3bc-cb2bec8c76b8 |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=wwos.nine.com.au |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}} ==External links== *[https://wallaroos.rugby/players/liz-patu Wallaroos Profile]
{{Australian 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup squad|state=collapsed}} {{Australian 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup Squad}} {{Australian 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup Squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Patu, Liz}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Australia women's international rugby union players Category:Australian female rugby union players Category:Rugby union players from Auckland