Joel Rapana

Joelin Rapana (born 23 April 1986) is a New Zealand-born Australian former professional rugby union player.[1]

Joel Rapana
Full nameJoelin Rapana
Date of birth (1986-04-23) 23 April 1986
Place of birthWellington, New Zealand
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight216 lb (98 kg)
SchoolPBC State High School
Notable relative(s)Jordan Rapana (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing / Centre
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010 Western Force 1 (0)
2012 Reds 1 (0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014 Cook Islands

Biography

Born in Wellington, Rapana was in his early teens when his family moved to Queensland, where he attended Palm Beach Currumbin State High School. He played rugby league growing up in Queensland and was an Australian Schoolboys representative player in 2004.[2] Turning down a contract offer from the Bulldogs, Rapana instead spent two years ministering in remote Western Australia for the Mormon church.[3] He then returned to Queensland and played rugby league for the Burleigh Bears while contracted by the Gold Coast Titans, where his younger brother Jordan was a player.[4]

Rugby union

Rapana, a three-quarter, was signed by the Western Force in 2009 to play rugby union, a sport he had played during his youth in New Zealand. He made his Super 14 debut off the bench against the Hurricanes in Wellington, then three weeks later was sidelined with a broken hand and didn't make his way back into the XV.[5] In 2012, Rapana represented Queensland A in the Pacific Rugby Cup and was called up by the Reds for their Super Rugby match against the Western Force in Perth, for which he was a starting centre.[6] He played international rugby for the Cook Islands as part of their 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying campaign.[7]

References
  1. Lutton, Phil (28 March 2012). "Rapana to debut for Reds". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  2. "LDS rugby recruit, RM ready to climb to the top". Deseret News. 18 May 2020.
  3. "Rapana heads west on a new mission". The West Australian. 29 October 2009.
  4. "Rapana answers SOS call from Reds". The Courier-Mail. 19 March 2012.
  5. "Broken hand sidelines Rapana". The West Australian. 10 March 2010.
  6. "Forced out Red has point to prove". The West Australian. 29 March 2012.
  7. "Tiny Cook Islands one match from World Cup". SBS News. 26 June 2014.
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