The Seattle Seawolves signed Les Soloai for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The soon to be 34-year-old No. 8/lock is 6’5″ and 265 lbs. Les was scheduled to make his Seawolves debut in 2020, however, the league shut down due to Covid-19 derailed this.
Les played 76 minutes in 4 matches with the Utah Warriors in 2018 and in 2019 played 156 minutes in 4 matches, starting twice and scoring one try.
Les was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but moved with his four sisters and one brother to Queensland, Australia. He attended Keebra Park State High school in Southport and graduated in 2005. The school is well-known for its rugby league program, which has produced numerous state and international players. Les played on the state championship rugby and basketball teams.
He moved to Hawaii in 2007 and played basketball for one year at BYU-Hawaii. He transferred to the University of Hawaii and played football as a defensive end. In 2011 he moved to Utah and played rugby at the University of Utah in 2012.
In Hawaii he played rugby league with the Hawaii Chiefs in the American National Rugby League and in 2012 he played rugby league with the Featherstone Rovers. This led to his selection with the USA Tomahawks for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. The team won against France, the Cook Islands, and Wales before losing in the quarterfinals against Australia. In 2014 he played with the Tweed Heads Seagulls in NSW, Australia.
Seattle Seawolves Comments
Relocating in 2020, Soloai was training with the Seawolves and set to debut until the cancelation of the MLR side in March 2020. The 6’5, 260 lb. athlete by all standards, Soloai provides depth to the Seawolves forward pack with the ability to play lock and eight-man alike. “I’m excited to be part of a great organization and the winning culture that has been built here in Seattle,” said Soloai.
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