Austin Gilgronis Re-Signs Frank Halai

Austin Gilgronis re-signed former All Black XVs and 7s player Frank Halai for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 32-year-old center (33 in March) is 6’5″ and 230 lbs.

“Halai debuted for the AG’s off the bench in week three against Utah and with his first touch took the ball 50 meters to the try line to set up a try. Just ten minutes later, he finished a highlight try which would go on to be the #1 try of the “AG’s Top 5 Tries” of the season. That try gave the AG’s their first lead of the season and sent the home crowd into a frenzy. Halai went on to start and play all 80 minutes in the final two matches of the truncated 2020 season.”

In three matches, Halai played 200 minutes, carried the ball 26 times for 255 meters, made18 tackles at an 81% made tackle percentage.

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).

New Zealand National Team & Barbarians

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.

Austin Gilgronis Comments

“[Last season] was fun, I got excited before games and the jitters again,” says Frank Halai. “I was having a lot of fun with the boys, and felt like we were really improving from that first match I played (Week 3 vs draw to Utah) to the final match (Week 5 Texas Cup victory).”

Halai took on a leadership role in the team upon arrival and helped steady the team in key moments throughout the truncated 2020 season.

“Frank is a true team man who revels in being the glue that binds the team together,” says AG’s head coach Sam Harris.

AG’s assistant coach Mark Gerrard liked what he saw from Halai in reviewing the team’s 2020 tape. “Frank was a handful in attack, teams constantly needed to commit two to three defenders every time he carried. I could see the connection he had between defenders inside and out, which delivered confidence to the edge defenders.”

In week four, Halai carried the ball 15 times for 148 meters; breaking the gain line on 67% of his carries. He broke two tackles on two line breaks and added two offloads to the stat line.

In the comeback effort, Halai scored another “AG’s Top 5” try with a magical juggle and dash to the line.

In the inaugural Texas Cup against state-rival Houston, it was Halai’s defense and leadership which helped the AG’s into the win column in an MLR Team of the Week performance.

“Frank is an out and out finisher, a dominant ball carrier, defensive leader, and an infectious personality,” says AG’s head coach Sam Harris.

Welcome back to the AG’s, Frank ‘The Tank’ Halai!