The Utah Warriors will have Tonata Lauti returning for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. The 30-year-old wing, who turns 31 in December, is 5’8″ and 185 lbs.
During 2019, he played 730 minutes in 10 matches and scored 2 tries. He also carried 72 times for 802 meters, made 7 line breaks and 2 tackle breaks, made 39 tackles and kicked twice for 93 meters.
Tonata was on the All-MLR first team in the 2018 season and was the leading try-scorer in the league.
He is originally from Neiafu, Vava’u, Tonga and is one of thirteen children. His family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1996 where he attended Highland High School. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school playing football, wrestling, basketball, soccer, track & field, but loved rugby.
He served on an LDS mission in West Africa and then attended the University of Utah, playing rugby for the Utes. At Utah, he was a Collegiate All-American for both 15’s and 7’s. He also played in the 2015 Halloween Sevens.
Nata currently lives in Herriman with his wife Erica. He is also a co-owner and operator at Lauti Construction.
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