Nationality New Zealand / Samoan Listed weight 280 lb (127 kg) 2010–2011 Southland Sharks Weight 127 kg | Listed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Playing career Height 1.98 m Position Power forward | |
Born 13 September 1983 (age 33)
Southland, New Zealand ( 1983-09-13 ) High school Onehunga High School (Auckland, New Zealand) | ||
Barry "Bubba" Lau'ese (born 13 September 1983) is a New Zealand-Samoan former professional basketball player.
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Early life
Lau'ese was born in Invercargill, Southland as Barry Papalii where he attended Surrey Park Primary School. He moved to Auckland, however, for secondary school where he attended Onehunga High School. It was here that he first started playing basketball; rugby, however, was still his true passion.
Rugby Union
In 2007, Lau'ese narrowly missed out on the Samoan national squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup and later played second division rugby in Wales and France.
In 2009, Lau'ese was lured back to Invercargill by Rugby Southland and the Excelsior Rugby Club.
Basketball
In February 2010, Lau'ese signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2010 New Zealand NBL season. In July 2010, he joined the Southland Flyers for the 2010 Conference Basketball League competition held in Porirua. He re-joined the Sharks for the 2011 season but did not play for them throughout the year.
Personal
In 2010, he changed his surname back to his family name of Lau'ese.
Outside sport, Lau'ese is a probation officer at the Corrections Department.