Uwe Helu

is a professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Japan Rugby League One club Kubota Spears. Born in Tonga, he represents Japan at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.

Club career Helu was born in Tonga, attended St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch, New Zealand, and then university in Tokyo, Japan. After graduating from university he signed up to play Top League rugby with Yamaha Júbilo in 2014. His appearances were sparse in his first two seasons with Yamaha, but in 2016 he began to be much more of a regular in the side.

International career After only 13 Top League appearances for Yamaha Júbilo, which included 3 starts, Helu received his first call-up to his adopted country, Japan's senior squad ahead of the 2016 end-of-year rugby union internationals. He debuted as a second-half replacement in new head coach, Jamie Joseph's first game, a 54–20 loss at home to .