Atunaisa Moli

Atunaisa Moli (born 12 June 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a Prop. He has represented the New Zealand national rugby union team the All Blacks.

Starting his career as a Tighthead Prop, Moli converted to Loosehead Prop during his professional career. Moli made his debut for New Zealand in 2017, earning a recall in 2019 after a spell of injury and made their team for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Early career Moli was born in the North Island town of Gisborne, but attended Marlborough Boys' College in the South Island town of Blenheim. He is of Tongan descent. While attending college, he represented Marlborough at under 16 and at under 18 level before moving to Waikato after graduation and representing them at under 19 level.

Senior career Moli debuted for Waikato during the 2015 ITM Cup in a match against on 14 August after starring as a school boy. Hindered by a foot injury, he only played 6 games during his first season of provincial level rugby, 2 of which were from the start. 2016 again saw him make 6 appearances, this time however, they were all from the start as he began to make the number 1 jersey his own. In 2019 Moli made his debut for against at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim. Moli missed the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup with injury as the Mako went on to win their second premiership title in a row. He played for the Mako during the 2021 Bunnings NPC but again suffered an injury before the end of the season.

Super Rugby After just 6 games at provincial level, Moli made the Chiefs Super Rugby squad for the 2016 Super Rugby season,

International Moli represented New Zealand Schools in 2013 and was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 teams which competed in the 2014 and 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championships. He appeared 5 times as New Zealand finished third in 2014 and made another 5 appearances, this time as captain as the Kiwis lifted the title in 2015 with a 21–16 victory over England in the final.

Moli was selected as a non playing "Apprentice" in the All Blacks squad for the 2017 Rugby Championship. Moli was only the third New Zealander to be selected for the All Blacks as an apprentice, following Ardie Savea who was an apprentice in 2013 and Jordie Barrett who held the title in 2016. After injuries to Joe Moody and Owen Franks, the All Blacks coaches had to seek more depth for the end of year tour. This meant that after starting in a 31–22 loss against the All Blacks for the Barbarians coached by Robbie Deans on 4 November, Moli joined the All Blacks squad again, making his debut for New Zealand against a French side 10 days later, replacing Tim Perry with 23 minutes left. Moli was one of six players to make their All Blacks debut in the 28–23 win. With experienced props, Karl Tu'inukuafe and Owen Franks, axed from the team, Moli also earned an appearance off the bench against Australia during a 26–47 loss.

In August 2019, Moli was named in the All Blacks squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Moli earned his first start for the All Blacks in the sides 63–0 win over Canada, lasting the whole 80 minutes of the test. Moli played one more test during the competition, coming off the bench against Wales in the Bronze Final, with New Zealand winning 40–17 to claim third place.