{{Short description|Samoa international rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox rugby biography | birth_name = Mailo Potumoe Leavasa | image = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1971|11|27}} | birth_place = Apia, Samoa | height = {{height|ft=6|in=5}} | weight = {{convert|242|lbs|kg|abbr=on}} | ru_currentposition = | ru_currentteam = | position = Lock | amatyears1 = 1993-1997 | amatteam1 = Taradale | super1 = Wellington Hurricanes | superapps1 = 1 | superpoints1 = 0 | superyears1 = 1997 | super14update = | province1 = Hawke's Bay | province2 = Central Vikings | province3 = Northland | provinceyears1 = 1993–1999 | provinceyears2 = 1997 | provinceyears3 = 1998 | provinceapps1 = 5 | provinceapps2 = 34 | provinceapps3 = 3 | provincepoints1 = 0 | provincepoints2 = 0 | provincepoints3 = 0 | ru_provinceupdate = | years1 = 1993-1999 | clubs1 = Taradale | apps1 = | points1 = | repyears1 = 1993–2002 | repteam1 = {{nrut|Samoa}} | repcaps1 = 17 | reppoints1 = 0 }} '''Potumoe Leavasa''', better known as '''Potu Leavasa''', (born 27 November 1971 in Apia) is a Samoan former rugby union player who played as a lock and coach.
==Career== He was selected for the Hurricanes in 1997 on the strength of a strong 1996 NPC season with Hawke's Bay and an impressive tour to Britain with Western Samoa that followed.
His only appearance in the Super 12 competition was when he came as a flanker against the Crusaders in the second round.
Leavasa played for the Central Vikings five times in 1997, previously capped 29 times for Hawke's Bay.
His first cap for Samoa was during a match against Tonga, at Nuku'alofa, on 29 May 1993. He was part of the 1995 Rugby World Cup roster, playing three matches. Leavasa took also part to the 1996 Samoa tour to Britain. His last international cap was during a match against South Africa, at Pretoria, on 6 July 2002.
===Coaching career=== Since 2016 he has been working in the coaching staff of the second national team of Samoa, preparing it for matches in the framework of the Americas Pacific Challenge.<ref>{{Citation|title=Manu Samoa on Facebook Watch|url=https://www.facebook.com/ManuSamoa/videos/samoa-a-head-coach-potu-leavasa-has-named-his-team-to-play-in-the-opening-round-/1207062632649267/|language=en|access-date=2021-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-03-14|title=Sport: Samoa A make adjustments for must-win clash|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/326564/sport-samoa-a-make-adjustments-for-must-win-clash|access-date=2021-04-29|website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref> He holds the post of backs coach under Brian Lima as head of the coaching staff.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Two changes to Samoa A team for their match against Tonga A|url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/sport/15148|access-date=2021-04-29|website=Samoa Observer}}</ref>
==Personal life== He is father of Potu Leavasa Jr. (born 1996), also a rugby player, who plays as lock for Samoa A national team.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Teams|url=http://manusamoa.com/teams/component/sppagebuilder/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=manusamoa.com|language=en-gb}}</ref> He was formed at the Melbourne Rebels Academy<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-09-14|title=Samoa extended squad for Americas Pacific Challenge|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2018/09/14/samoa-extended-squad-for-americas-pacific-challenge/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=Americas Rugby News|language=en-US}}</ref> and was recruited by the Warringah Rats.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-06-20|title=10 Shute Shield recruits that can win their club a premiership this year|url=https://rugbynews.net.au/10-intrust-super-shute-shield-recruits-that-can-win-their-club-a-premiership-this-year/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=Rugby News|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 1997, Leavasa Sr. was a suspect in the case of the rape of a woman by one of the Hurricanes players in Durban.<ref>{{Cite web|date=15 August 1997|title=Justice loses in rugby rape case|url=https://mg.co.za/article/1997-08-15-justice-loses-in-rugby-rape-case|website=Mail & Guardian}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/11499.html Potu Leavasa international statistics] *[http://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/peter-l-leavasa Peter L. Leavasa international statistics]
{{Samoa Squad 1995 World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leavasa, Potu}} Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:Rugby union players from Apia Category:Samoan rugby union players Category:Samoan expatriates in New Zealand Category:Rugby union locks Category:Samoa international rugby union players Category:1995 Rugby World Cup players Category:Hawke's Bay rugby union players Category:Central Vikings players Category:Northland rugby union players Category:Hurricanes (rugby union) players