Glendale Raptors Sign Siale Maka

Glendale Raptors signed Siale Maka Jr. for the 2019 Major League Rugby season. He is 22-years-old, 6’3″, and 225 lbs.

Siale is from Ewa Beach, Hawaii and moved to Aurora, Colorado with his family when he was 4 years old. He attended William C. Hinkley High School and played football and basketball his freshman year. He was introduced to rugby and played with the Aurora Saracens. The team tried him at lock before he ended up at fullback and assumed the kicking duties. He then played three years in high school at flyhalf.

During his Sophomore year, he was named to the Rugby Colorado Selects and his Senior year to the inaugural Rocky Mountain Rebels 7s team that was coached by Ethan Pougnet and Cody Melphy.

Siale attended the University of Northern Colorado, majoring in Criminal Justice. His first year he tried out for football team and was offered a position as team manager. He played for the rugby team at fullback and helped the team advance to USA Rugby Nationals in 2016. In 2017 he was named to the Collegiate All-American 7s team.

2017 was a huge year for him in rugby. He played for the Denver Barbarians in the USA Rugby Club 7s Nationals, helping the team to a second place finish. He also played with the Barbos in the Rugbytown 7s. This lead to an invitation to the USA Rugby National 7s High-Performance Camp where he was selected for the USA Falcons 7s 2018 South American tour to Punta del Este, Uruguay and to the Vina del Mar 7s in Chile. He also played for Denver in the 2018 Club 7s Nationals, helping the team to 4th place.

In 2018, Siale decided to place his college education on hold and joined the Glendale Raptors Academy, and his performance led to a contract with the Raptors for the Fall Exhibition season. He will continue with the Raptors in 2019 on an Associate MLR contract as a utility player at center or as a back row.