Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | Weight 111 kg (17 st 7 lb) Playing position Years Team | |
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Andrew Makalio (born 22 January 1992) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a hooker for Tasman in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and for the Crusaders in the international Super Rugby competition.
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Early Career
Originally from Auckland, Makalio started playing rugby at the age of 15 while attending Onehunga High School. He made his way through the Auckland club rugby scene and was named man of the match as his side, Grammar TEC lifted the Gallaher Shield in 2015. Unable to crack the Auckland Mitre 10 Cup team, he headed south to play for Marlborough based side Harlequins in 2016.
Senior Career
Makalio's move south proved to be a fruitful one as after just one season in Marlborough club rugby, he was chosen to replace the departing Quentin MacDonald in the Tasman Makos squad for the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup. He instantly established himself as the first choice in the number 2 jersey, making 11 appearances, 10 of them from the start and scoring 2 tries as the Makos finished as Premiership runners up in 2016.
Super Rugby
After just one full season and 11 appearances at provincial level, he was handed a Super Rugby contract by the Crusaders ahead of the 2017 Super Rugby season. The move would seem him compete for the number 2 jersey with Canterbury hookers Codie Taylor and Ben Funnell.