Eddie Paea

Edmond "Eddie" Paea (born 8 February 1988) is a dual-code rugby international rugby footballer for Tonga. Beginning his professional career playing rugby league with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League, Paea made his debut for the Tongan rugby league team at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, before changing to rugby union and representing the Tongan rugby union team. Eddie currently plays for his junior team, the Mascot Juniors RLFC in the A Grade South Sydney Junior Rugby League competition which Eddie returned to in 2019.

Background Paea was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Rugby league career Paea made his NRL debut for the Rabbitohs in round 26 of the 2006 season against the Wests Tigers. A Junior Kiwi representative, Paea was named in Tonga's squad for the 2008 World Cup. Paea scored his first senior international try in the World Cup match against Scotland on 8 November 2008. He also converted one try. Paea spent the majority of his time whilst contracted with South Sydney playing for their feeder team, the North Sydney Bears, in the NSW Cup. Paea made a total of 42 appearances for Norths, scoring 15 tries, kicking 79 goals and scoring a total of 218 points.

+ International caps Cap Date Team Venue Opponent Competition T G FG Points 18 October 2008 Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland 31 October 2008 Penrith Stadium, Sydney 2008 World Cup Browne Park, Rockhampton 14 October 2009 Rotorua International Showground, Rotorua 25 October 2009 Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby 2009 Pacific Cup 31 October 2009 Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby 24 October 2010 Parramatta Stadium, Sydney 4 October 2018 St Marys Stadium, Sydney 2018 Emerging Nations World Championship 10 October 2018 New Era Stadium, Sydney 13 October 2018 St Marys Stadium, Sydney

Rugby union career Paea played Rugby Union in Krasnoyarsk Russia for Krasny Yar as a first-5. They are currently the holders of the Russian Cup and were the 2015 Russian Champions. + International caps Cap Date Venue Opponent Competition T G FG Points 8 June 2011 Surrey 2011 Churchill Cup 23 June 2012 Churchill Park, Lautoka 2012 Pacific Nations Cup