{{Short description|US international rugby union player (born 1990)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Paul Lasike | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|06|18}} | birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand | height = {{convert|5|ft|11|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|250|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} | school = Church College of New Zealand | university = Brigham Young University | relatives = | occupation = | spouse = | position = Centre | currentclub = Utah Warriors | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2018 | clubs1 = Utah Warriors | apps1 = 7 | points1 = 5 | years2 = 2018–2021 | clubs2 = Harlequins | apps2 = 29 | points2 = 25 | years3 = 2022 | clubs3 = London Scottish F.C. | apps3 = 3 | points3 = 0 | years4 = 2022–2025 | clubs4 = Utah Warriors | apps4 = 37 | points4 = 35 | repyears1 = 2018–2020 | repteam1 = United States | repcaps1 = 22 | reppoints1 = 30 | clubupdate = 9 August 2025 | repupdate = 31 March 2020 | ru_sevensnationalyears1 = | ru_sevensnationalteam1 = | ru_sevensnationalcomp1 = | ru_sevensupdate = | medals = | show-medals = | module = {{Infobox NFL biography | embed = yes | number = 47 | position = Fullback | college = Brigham Young | undraftedyear = 2015 | teams = * Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2015}})* * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2015}}–{{NFL Year|2016}}) |statlabel1=Rushing yards |statvalue1=8 |statlabel2=Rushing average |statvalue2=2.7 |statlabel3=Receptions |statvalue3=1 |statlabel4=Receiving yards |statvalue4=3 | status = }} }}
'''Paul Lasike''' (born 18 June 1990) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player for the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby (MLR). In American football, he played as a fullback in the National Football League (NFL). In international rugby, he plays for the United States national rugby union team. He played college football and rugby at Brigham Young University.<ref name="UFACardinalsLasike">{{cite web |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/05/cardinals-sign-14-undrafted-free-agents/ |title=Cardinals sign 14 undrafted free agents |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=5 May 2015 |website=NBCSports.com |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
==Early life== Lasike is one of 10 children in an ethnic Tongan family. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Alabama. Lasike is married to Ani, a native of Santos, Brazil.<ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11703883 ''New Zealand Herald'' article on Lasike]</ref> Ani's family moved to Sacramento, California when she was in her early teens.<ref>[http://byufootballwives.blogspot.com/2013/11/ani-lasike.html BYU Football Wives club interview with Ani Lasike]</ref>
==NFL career== === Arizona Cardinals === Lasike was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Arizona Cardinals on 5 May 2015, but was waived on 5 September 2015.<ref name="UFACardinalsLasike"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Make-Final-Roster-Cuts/7631774a-731e-47ea-9da7-2b1d0fd86d34 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030807/http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Make-Final-Roster-Cuts/7631774a-731e-47ea-9da7-2b1d0fd86d34 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 November 2017 |title=Cardinals Make Final Roster Cuts |last=Urban |first=Darren |date=5 September 2015 |website=AZCardinals.com |access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref>
=== Chicago Bears === Lasike was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad on 7 September 2015, but his contract was terminated the next day due to visa problems.<ref name="Bears2015">{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/chicago-bears/post/_/id/4699843/bears-release-new-zealand-born-paul-lasike-because-of-visa-problems |title=Bears release New Zealand-born Paul Lasike because of Visa problems |last=Dickerson |first=Jeff |date=9 September 2015 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref> On 21 September 2015, Lasike was re-signed to the Bears' practice squad.<ref>{{cite news |first=Rich |last=Campbell |title=John Fox downplays benching of former 1st-round pick Kyle Fuller |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-kyle-fuller-benching-bears-bits-spt-0922-20150921-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |date=21 September 2015 |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref> On 4 January 2016, Lasike signed a futures contract with the Bears.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bearswire.usatoday.com/2016/01/05/examining-the-nine-players-bears-signed-futures-contracts/|work=USAToday.com|title=Examining the nine players Bears signed futures contracts|first=Sean|last=Shaffrey|date=5 January 2016|access-date=10 January 2016}}</ref> On 20 September 2016, he was released by the Bears.<ref>{{cite web|title=Paul Lasike: Released by Bears |url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/paul-lasike-released-by-bears/|website=CBSSports.com|date=20 September 2016 }}</ref> Two days later he was signed to the practice squad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/09/bears-promote-qb-matt-barkley-to-active-roster|title=Bears Promote Matt Barkley To Active Roster|last=Links|first=Zach|date=22 September 2016|website=Pro Football Rumors}}</ref> He was elevated to the active roster on 5 October 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/chicago-bears/bears-place-kevin-white-ir-fractured-fibula|title=Bears lose Kevin White to IR with broken leg|last=Mullin|first=John|date=5 October 2016|work=NBC Sports Chicago}}</ref> He was released by the Bears on 20 October 2016, but the Bears then re-signed him to their practice squad the following day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-bears-packers-10-thoughts-biggs-20161021-story.html|title=10 thoughts on the Bears' 26–10 loss to the Packers|last=Biggs|first=Brad|date=20 October 2016|work=Chicagotribune.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nfltraderumors.co/bears-re-sign-fb-paul-lasike-practice-squad-place-rb-raheem-mostert-ps-injured-list/|title=Bears Re-Sign FB Paul Lasike To Practice Squad, Place RB Raheem Mostert On PS Injured List|work=NFL Trade Rumors|first=Nate|last=Bouda|date=21 October 2016|access-date=21 October 2016}}</ref> He was promoted to the active roster on 12 November 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bears Promote FB Paul Lasike To Active Roster|url=http://nfltraderumors.co/bears-promote-fb-paul-lasike-active-roster/|work=NFL Trade Rumors|first=Nate|last=Bouda|date=12 November 2016|access-date=12 November 2016}}</ref> On 11 May 2017, he was waived by the Bears.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bears release Eddie Royal, three others|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-rostermoves/Bears-release-Eddie-Royal-three-others/eb199e1c-2d69-489b-a20c-ff66b2fc93dc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407205629/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-rostermoves/Bears-release-Eddie-Royal-three-others/eb199e1c-2d69-489b-a20c-ff66b2fc93dc|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 April 2018|author=Mayer, Larry|website=ChicagoBears.com|date=11 May 2017}}</ref>
==Rugby union== Lasike first came to BYU on a scholarship to play college rugby. He was called into the United States national rugby union team for the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship, earning his debut against Chile.
Lasike first started playing for Utah Warriors during the inaugural 2018 Major League Rugby season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/2018/6/19/20647407/former-byu-football-player-paul-lasike-brings-unique-experiences-together-as-leader-of-utah-warriors#warriors-co-captain-paul-lasike-speaks-to-the-team-following-their-42-15-loss-to-the-glendale-raptors-at-rio-tinto-stadium-in-sandy-on-friday-march-30-2018|publisher=Deseret.com|title=Former BYU football player Paul Lasike brings unique experiences together as leader of Utah Warriors, USA Rugby|date=19 June 2018|access-date=12 September 2019}}</ref> On 3 August 2018, Lasike travelled to England to join Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership from the 2018–19 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45062681|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Paul Lasike: Harlequins sign USA international from Utah Warriors|date=3 August 2018|access-date=12 September 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://byucougars.com/athlete/m-football/paul-lasike BYU Cougars Bio] *[http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Paul-Lasike/a28e88d2-d929-4a61-a69d-28a5a1fc0e7c Arizona Cardinals Bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510150908/http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/paul-lasike/a28e88d2-d929-4a61-a69d-28a5a1fc0e7c/ |date=10 May 2015 }} *[http://www.chicagobears.com/team/roster/Paul-Lasike/c7222c04-b3d8-47a5-83ca-84c88c0dc063 Chicago Bears Bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909234434/http://www.chicagobears.com/team/roster/paul-lasike/c7222c04-b3d8-47a5-83ca-84c88c0dc063 |date=9 September 2015 }} * {{sport links}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lasike, Paul}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:American football fullbacks Category:Arizona Cardinals players Category:BYU Cougars football players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:New Zealand Latter Day Saints Category:New Zealand Mormon missionaries Category:New Zealand players of American football Category:People educated at the Church College of New Zealand Category:New Zealand people of Tongan descent Category:Sportspeople of Tongan descent Category:Rugby union players from Auckland Category:Rugby union centres Category:Utah Warriors players Category:Harlequin F.C. players Category:London Scottish F.C. players Category:21st-century Mormon missionaries Category:United States international rugby union players Category:2019 Rugby World Cup players Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States Category:New Zealand emigrants to the United States Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in the United States Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in England Category:American expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Naturalised rugby union players Category:New Zealand rugby union players