{{Short description|American rugby union player (born 1993)}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Mike Te'o | image = | caption = | full_name = Michael Paseka Te'o | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|07|23}} | birth_place = Long Beach, California, U.S. | height = {{convert|5|ft|8|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|205|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} | school = Long Beach Polytechnic High School | position = Wing, Fullback | currentclub = San Diego Legion | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2016 | clubs1 = San Diego Breakers | apps1 = 10 | points1 = 30 | years2 = 2018–2020 | clubs2 = San Diego Legion | apps2 = 15 | points2 = 40 | years3 = 2020 | clubs3 = London Scottish | apps3 = 0 | points3 = 0 | years4 = 2021–2022 | clubs4 = Utah Warriors | apps4 = 23 | points4 = 67 | years5 = 2023– | clubs5 = San Diego Legion | apps5 = 18 | points5 = 30 | repyears1 = 2012–2013 | repteam1 = United States U20 | repcaps1 = 6 | reppoints1 = 15 | repyears2 = 2016– | repteam2 = United States | repcaps2 = 30 | reppoints2 = 80 | repyears3 = 2016 | repteam3 = USA Selects | repcaps3 = 3 | reppoints3 = 5 | clubupdate = 7 August 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike TE'O, Full back |url=https://www.itsrugby.co.uk/players/mike-teo-26604.html#:~:text=Mike%20TE'O%20is%20an,m%2075%20for%2092%20kg. |website=ITS Rugby |access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref> | repupdate = 10 July 2021 | repsevensyears1 = 2012–2017 | repsevensteam1 = United States | repsevenscomp1 = 11 | ru_sevensupdate = 21 May 2017 | medals = | show-medals = }}
'''Michael Paseka Te'o''' (born July 23, 1993) is an American professional rugby player who plays for the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR). He also represents the America as a member of the United States national rugby union team.
He previously played for London Scottish in the RFU Championship England's second tier competition.
Te'o debuted for the U.S. at the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship, playing mostly at scrum-half, but also at fullback.<ref>[http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2016/02/more-changes-as-eagles-face-chile.html "More Changes As Eagles Face Chile"], This Is American Rugby, February 19, 2016.</ref>
==Early career== As a youth, Te'o grew up in Long Beach, California. He played American football for the Long Beach Polytechnic football team in addition to rugby.
Te'o was a member of the United States national under-20 rugby union team that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy.
==Professional rugby career== Te'o has also played for the United States national rugby sevens team, debuting at the 2012 Gold Coast Sevens during the 2012-13 World Rugby Sevens Series. Te'o was later named as a non-traveling reserve for the U.S. sevens squad for the 2014 Australia Sevens.<ref>[http://www.goffrugbyreport.com/national-teams/hughes-leads-eagles-7s-gold-coast "Hughes Leads Eagles 7s to Gold Coast"], Goff Rugby Report, September 27, 2014.</ref> Te'o played for the U.S. sevens team in the 2015 Pan American Games.<ref>[http://www.rugbytoday.com/elite/eagles-roster-set-pan-am-games "Eagles Roster set for Pan Am Games"], Rugby Today, Brett Anker, July 2, 2015.</ref>
Before signing with the San Diego Breakers in the short-lived PRO Rugby, Te'o played for Belmont Shore in Long Beach, California in both 15s and sevens. With Belmont Shore he won the 2012 15s National Championship, the Club 7's National Championship, and was named 7's tournament MVP.<ref>[http://www.usarugby.org/2012/08/belmont-shore-repeats-7s-title/ "BELMONT SHORE REPEATS 7s TITLE"], USA Rugby, Jarrod Beckstrom, August 5, 2012.</ref> He has also played with the Taranaki Development program in New Zealand.<ref>[http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2015/11/12/20-domestic-players-to-benefit-from-pro-rugby/ "20 Domestic Players to Benefit from PRO Rugby"], Americas Rugby News, November 12, 2015.</ref>
Te’o signed with London Scottish ahead of the 2020–21 season, but never played a match as the season was suspended due to the pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Te'o's season ends at London Scottish before it starts |url=https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/35723/mike-teos-season-ends-at-london-scottish-before-it-starts/ |website=therugbypaper |accessdate=31 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-12|title=Mike Te'o joins London Scottish|url=https://londonscottish.com/mike-teo-joins-london-scottish/|access-date=2020-06-18|website=London Scottish Rugby|language=en-GB}}</ref> The Utah Warriors signed USA Mike Te’o for the 2021 Major League Rugby season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Utah Warriors Signs Mike Te'o |url=https://djcoilrugby.com/2020/11/24/utah-warriors-mike-teo/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124150648/https://djcoilrugby.com/2020/11/24/utah-warriors-mike-teo/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |website=djcoilrugby |access-date=7 December 2020}}</ref> Te'o was traded back to the San Diego Legion in September 2022 for the 2023 Major League Rugby season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mikey Te'o Returns to San Diego in Utah Trade |url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2022/09/14/mikey-teo-returns-to-san-diego-in-utah-trade/#:~:text=Mikey%20Te%27o%20is%20returning,Dietenberger%20and%20salary%20cap%20considerations. |website=Americas Rugby News |access-date=September 14, 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Sport links}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Te'o, Mike}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Long Beach, California Category:United States international rugby union players Category:United States international rugby sevens players Category:San Diego Breakers players Category:San Diego Legion players Category:London Scottish F.C. players Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2015 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in rugby sevens Category:Rugby union fullbacks Category:Rugby union wings Category:Utah Warriors players Category:2019 Rugby World Cup players Category:Rugby union players from California