Izaiha Moore-Aiono

Izaiha Moore-Aiono (born 3 March 2000) is a professional rugby union player, who currently plays as a back row forward for Castres in the French Top 14. Born in New Zealand, he represents Samoa at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.

Early life Moore-Aiono was born in Auckland, New Zealand to Māori and Samoan parents. His mother, Aroha Lam (née Moore), played rugby at test level for the Black Ferns, earning three caps in 2004. His father, Rudal Aiono, is of a Samoan family originating from Fasito'o Uta in Upolu and Sataua in Savai'i.

When he was six years old, Moore-Aiono moved with his family to Queensland in Australia, where he began playing rugby league in the junior section of NRL side North Queensland Cowboys. During his time in the club's senior academy, he spent the 2018–19 season dual-registered the National League 1 side Esher.

Club career Moore-Aiono made his senior debut for London Irish during the 2019–20 season, coming on as a replacement in a Premiership match against Harlequins in September 2020. Playing as a flanker or number 8, the majority of Moore-Aiono's appearances for London Irish took place in the Premiership Rugby Cup, whilst he also had a spell on loan with the RFU Championship club Ealing Trailfinders. Subsequently, he was signed by Northampton Saints on a short-term contract in August, featuring as a guest player in the 2023–24 Premiership Rugby Cup, and in a friendly fixture against the Barbarians. Once this deal ended, Moore-Aiono transferred to Ampthill in October, for the remainder of the 2023–24 RFU Championship. He featured 18 times for the team across their league and cup campaign, scoring two tries. At the end of this trial period, he was recruited by Castres in France, on a short-term 'medical joker' deal, to cover for injuries in the Top 14 club's senior squad.

International career Moore-Aiono was eligible to represent four different nations under World Rugby criteria. He qualified for New Zealand and Samoa via ancestry, and also England and Australia on residency grounds. This was followed a month later with a try-scoring debut for the England U20s, in a victory against South Africa.

Having opted to represent his ancestral home country of Samoa at test level, Moore-Aiono received his first senior call-up for the 2024 summer internationals. He earned three further caps during Samoa's bronze medal-winning campaign in the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup, which included a brace of tries against Tonga.