Austin Herd Signs All Black Frank Halai
By Grant FeeleyAustin Herd Rugby Club signed former All Black XVs and 7s player Frank Halai for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. The 31-year-old wing is 6’5″ and 231 lbs.
Frank was born in Pangai, Tonga, and lives in Rotorua, New Zealand. He attended Wesley College in Auckland.
From 2011-12 he played rugby for Waikato before moving on to Counties Manukau from 2012-15 in the ITM Cup. Then played for the Super Rugby Blues from 2013-2015 before moving to the U.K. to play with the Wasps in the English Premiership from 2015-2017. Since 2017 he has played in the French Top 14 for Pau (Section Paloise).
Frank played in 7 competitions for the New Zealand Sevens Team from 2011-2012. In 2013 he made his debut for the All Blacks against Japan at Tokyo on November 2. That was quite an honor in becoming All Black #1128 and was his only appearance with the team.
He also played with the Barbarians FC from 2013-2014, making three appearances. In 2014 he played twice for the New Zealand Barbarians.