Old Glory re-signed Simi Moala for the 2022 Major League Rugby season. The 30-year-old center (31 in June) is 6’2″ and 230 lbs.
In 2021, Simi appeared in four matches in 2021, playing 63 minutes, had 12 strong ball carries over 147 meters, with 12 tackle breaks, and two line breaks.
Simi is from Neiafu, Vava’u, Tonga, and attended Saineha High School where he played rugby and was on the track team. He also played club rugby while in Tonga.
Simi played football in 2015 at Lackawanna College and rugby with Wilkes-Barre Breakers for a season that Spring. He also played rugby with Schuylkill River in 2015 and 2016. From 2015-2020 he attended Southern Virginia University where he continued playing football in the Fall and rugby in the Spring with Washington & Lee for three years, as SVU didn’t have a team. Simi was honored in 2018 as an NSCRO Men’s All-American.
Simi’s senior year at Southern Virginia University, the school began a rugby program and he played with the club that year.
Southern Virginia University‘s Moala, a math major from Tonga, explained how he wanted to become an engineer since he was a young boy. After completing his associate’s degree, interning at NASA, and playing for the U.S. national rugby team for four years, Moala chose to attend Southern Virginia to finish his bachelor’s degree. He is the first member of his entire extended family to attend college. After graduating he will attend the University of Virginia’s engineering graduate program.
“Southern Virginia was an answer to my prayers and has helped me refocus on [the schooling]I had started,” said Moala. “It allowed me to practice, live and share my culture and allowed me to see my full potential. I learned here to never give up. I am grateful for my professors, the staff members, and especially for the career center who have helped me every step of the way.”
Old Glory DC Comments
“I’m super stoked for this upcoming season,” said Simi Moala on returning to DC. “I love the game of rugby but knowing the brothers I’ll be fighting in front of our amazing fans is what I’m more excited about. I can’t wait to be back.”
“Simi had an excellent start to his MLR career in 2021,” said Head Coach Douglas. “He grabbed opportunities presented to him. Simi is a big strong ball carrier who we will look to on the wing and midfield next season. He’s a genuine threat with the ball in hand and can be very imposing defensively. We’re looking forward to his continued development in 2022.”
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