Miah Nikora

Miah Nikora (born 28 April 1985 in Gisborne, New Zealand) is a professional rugby union player and head coach from New Zealand. He currently is head coach of Civil Projects Solutions Poverty Bay senior rugby club. He primarily played at fly-half, though he has also played at fullback. Nikora formerly played for the Irish provincial team Connacht in the Pro14.

Nikora is a former New Zealand Under-21, Under-19 and Secondary Schools representative. He first came to prominence playing in the Gisborne Boys' High School First XV. Nikora became eligible to play for Ireland from the end of the 2011–12 season under the three-year residency rule.

Club career

Career in New Zealand After starting out at Poverty Bay he moved to Wellington. In 2006 Nikora was loaned by Wellington to Tasman Rugby Union for two years, at the completion of which Tasman was planning to sign Nikora for a further period. However, a condition in the loan agreement stated that if either Jimmy Gopperth or Tamati Ellison got injured or made the All Blacks for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Wellington could recall Nikora.

During Round Two of the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup, Tamati Ellison was injured and Nikora was drafted back to Wellington. He was then named in the Hurricanes' wider training group for the 2007 Super 14.

Connacht Nikora joined Irish side Connacht for the start of the 2009–10 season to provide competition for Ian Keatley at fly-half.

Nikora made 11 appearances in his debut league campaign, At European level, Nikora played in six of Connacht's eight 2009–10 Challenge Cup games as they reached the semi-finals.

In the 2010–11 season a new coach, Eric Elwood. Nikora played 16 games in the 2010–11 Celtic League Nikora played in ten 2011–12 Pro12 games, starting eight of these and scoring 75 points. Nikora played no part in the 2013–14 Heineken Cup, and ultimately did not play in the 2013–14 Pro12 until 23 February 2014 against Zebre, when he came on as a replacement. Nikora made four more appearances from the bench and three starts before the end of the season.