Apii Nicholls-Pualau (born 26 February 1993) is a New Zealand rugby league and union player. She played for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL Women's Premiership. Primarily a fullback, she is a New Zealand representative.[1][2]
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 26 February 1993 Rarotonga, Cook Islands, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 163 cm (5 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 62 kg (9 st 11 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby league | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: RLP As of 1 November 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In 2023, she was signed by Chiefs Manawa for the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
Background
editBorn in Rarotonga, Nicolls-Paualau represented the Cook Islands rugby sevens team before switching to rugby league.[3]
Playing career
editOtahuhu Leopards
editIn 2017, Nicholls-Paulau began playing for the Otahuhu Leopards in the Auckland Rugby League.[4] Later that year, she was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup.[5] She captained the team in a 50–4 win over Canada.[6] On 2 December 2017, she started at fullback in New Zealand's final loss to Australia.
On 11 February 2018, she was named the NZRL Women's Player of the Year.[7] On 1 August 2018, she joined the New Zealand Warriors NRL Women's Premiership team.[8] In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Warriors, kicking a goal in a 10–4 win over the Sydney Roosters.[9]
International
editIn October 2019, Nicholls-Pualau was a member of New Zealand's 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s-winning squad.[10]
In October 2022, she was selected for the New Zealand squad at the delayed 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup in England.[11]
Chiefs Manawa (RU)
editNicholls-Pualau was signed by Chiefs Manawa for the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season.[12][13] She rejoined the side for the 2024 season.[14][15]
Canberra Raiders
editOn 27 Apr 2023 it was reported that she had returned to play rugby league with Canberra Raiders Women in their inaugural season.[16]
References
edit- ^ "Kiwi Ferns name World Cup squad". Rugby League World Cup. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ "Kiwi Ferns name squad for Rugby League World Cup". Newshub. 13 October 2017. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ "Pre-game nerves no cop-out for Nicholls". NRL. 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Apii Nicholls". NZRL.
- ^ "Following Fiso no easy task". NRL. 14 November 2017.
- ^ "Apii Nicholls-Pualau ready to take charge of Kiwis". Ethan O'Gorman RL. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ^ "Four Vodafone Warriors honoured at NZRL awards". NZ Warriors. 11 February 2018.
- ^ "Vodafone Warriors unveil NRL women's premiership squad". NZ Warriors. 1 August 2018.
- ^ "'I wake up and just start feeling really nervous' - Nicholls". NZ Warriors. 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Kiwi Ferns will find out who is their fastest". NRL. 17 October 2019.
- ^ Priest, Craig (2 October 2022). "Kiwi Ferns name 24-strong World Cup squad". New Zealand Rugby League. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ Birchall, Jim (16 January 2023). "League and sevens stars bolster Waitomo Chiefs Manawa". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ "League and Sevens Stars Sign with Waitomo Chiefs Manawa". Chiefs. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ "Chiefs Manawa squad announced for 2024". Chiefs. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads locked in for 2024". superrugby.co.nz. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ "Apii Nicholls". Canberra Raiders. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.