Ngani Laumape

Early life

Laumape is of Tongan descent. Laumape originally played rugby union, touring Britain and Thailand with the Palmerston North Boys' High School 1st XV and playing for New Zealand Schools. Laumape then signed with the New Zealand Warriors, switching to rugby league and playing in the 2012 NYC. He was the club's top try-scorer in the junior competition with 16 tries.

2013–14

In Round 3 of the 2013 NRL season, Laumape made his first grade debut for the New Zealand Warriors on the wing against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the Warriors 28-4 loss at Remondis Stadium. In his third match in Round 5 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Laumape scored his first NRL career try in the Warriors' 24-22 loss at Mt Smart Stadium. Laumape finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 14 matches and scoring 6 tries for the Warriors.

In February 2014, Laumape was selected for the Warriors inaugural Auckland Nines squad. Laumape finished off the Warriors 2014 NRL season with him playing in 16 matches and scoring 5 tries. On 9 September, Laumape was selected for the New Zealand Kiwis 2014 Four Nations train on squad, but did not make the final 24-man squad.

2015–16

On 16 January 2015, Laumape was named in the Warriors' 2015 Auckland Nines squad. After suffering a season ending leg injury, Laumape returned to rugby union, signing with the Manawatu Turbos and Hurricanes in July 2015.

Laumape made his debut for the Hurricanes in the 2016 Super Rugby competition, starting in the inside centre position against the Brumbies whilst scoring his first professional rugby union try. He then celebrated his return to Palmerston North with scoring his second try of the season in the Hurricanes win over the Force. After playing majority of the season as the favoured centre, he found himself on the bench later throughout the year but gained praise for his solid defence and strong ball-carrying runs, causing plenty of issues for his opponents. Overall Laumpape gained 11 appearances for the franchise and scored 4 tries, as well as winning the sides first ever Super Rugby title after their 20–3 victory over the Lions in the 2016 grand final.

After a formidable Super Rugby campaign, Laumape returned home to play for Manawatu in the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup. He scored a hat-trick in his first game against fellow provincial side, Southland to lead the competition in try-scoring. He ended the season as one of just three Manawatu players to list in the competition statistical leaders of any of the major categories. Laumape finished third-equal in tries with seven. He was leading the category at the halfway-point with six. He was also the team's best attacking weapon leading the side in carries and defenders beaten, while he was second in clean breaks and metres gained.

2017–18

Laumape started 2017 strongly, and after the opening month he led the competition for line breaks and defenders beaten as well as scoring five tries in the Hurricanes opening four matches.

2013–14

In 2013, Laumpape was named in the Junior Kiwis side to play the Junior Kangaroos in Sydney, after coach Brent Gemmell named a side based on experience. The squad featured nine players from the Junior Warriors that were involved in the Holden Cup Grand Final, including Laumpape. He started at centre, being the sides only recognised NRL player in their 38–26 defeat. He also narrowly missed out on making the New Zealand Kiwis test side in 2014 after being named in the training squad earlier that year.

2017–18

Laumape was introduced into the All Blacks squad for the 2017 three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions. He was one of two debutants named in the side along with fellow Hurricanes back Jordie Barrett. He was brought into the match-day 23 for the second test against the Lions following Ryan Crotty's hamstring injury.