Chris Vea'ila

Chris Vea'ila (born 24 February 2003) is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League.

Background Vei'la was born in Auckland and is of Tongan descent. He played his junior rugby league for the Waitemata Seagulls and Pt Chevalier Pirates before being signed by the Newcastle Knights when he was 14.

Playing career Early career Vea'ila spent several seasons in the Knights' junior representative system, winning the Harold Matthews Cup with the club in 2019. From 2020 to 2022, he played for the club's SG Ball Cup side.

In 2023, while playing for Newcastle's Jersey Flegg Cup side, he made a mid-season move to the Cronulla Sharks.

In 2024, he became a regular for the Newtown Jets in the NSW Cup, starting at in their Grand Final win over the North Sydney Bears.

2025 On 8 May, Vea'ila re-signed with the Sharks until the end of the 2026 season.

In Round 20 of the 2025 NRL season, Vea'ila made his NRL debut, scoring a try in the Sharks' 31–18 win over the Sydney Roosters.

2026 On 12 January, it was reported that Vea'ila had signed a deal with the Perth Bears from 2027. It was confirmed hours later that Vea'ila had signed for two years.