Janai Haupapa (born 14 March 1993) is a women's rugby union and rugby league footballer from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.[1] She plays for the Canada women's national rugby league team and has played for the Canada women's national rugby union team's development side as a centre.[2][3]
History
editHaupapa plays rugby union for Calgary Rams RFC.[4] In 2015, she was called up to the Canada women's national rugby union development team for their tour of England and made her debut playing in the second row at Molesey Road in Hersham.[2][5]
In 2017, Haupapa switched codes to rugby league in order to join up with Canada's first ever women's national rugby league squad in time for the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup.[3] She along with the majority of the team were rugby union players with only one having played rugby league prior and Haupapa was still a member of Calgary Rams RFC at the time.[4][3] However during the tournament where she made her international rugby league debut, she was accused of biting the Australia women's national rugby league team captain Renae Kunst.[6] Despite support from Canada's coach Mike Castle,[7] Haupapa pleaded guilty to the charge and received a two match ban which meant that she missed Canada's semi-final match[8] and the rest of the tournament.[9] This was the fourth allegation of biting that had been levied at a player during the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup with the England women's national rugby league team and the Papua New Guinea women's national rugby league team players also being accused of biting.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Janai Haupapa". Canada RLA. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ a b Maple Leafs ready for second England match (4 December 2015). "Maple Leafs ready for second England match". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ a b c Patrick Johnston (20 September 2017). "Canada gets its first-ever national women's rugby league squad". The Province. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Congratulations to CRU Women". CRU. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "England & Canadian development sides named". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ "Canada biting allegations mar record Jillaroos win". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ "Canada's Haupapa accepts Cup biting ban". SBS. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Last Updated: 23/11/17 6:51am. "Canada's Janai Haupapa given two-match ban for biting". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Canadian women's rugby league player banned for biting Australian rival". Stuff.co.nz. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ "Canada's Haupapa to miss World Cup semi-final after bite admission". Times and Star. Retrieved 27 November 2017.[permanent dead link]