The Seattle Seawolves Tavite Lopeti returns for the second year of his contract that was signed through the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 24-year-old center is 5’11” and 210 lbs.
Tavite played 1196 minutes in 17 matches, starting 15, and scored 5 tries for the Seawolves in 2022.
Following the season he played with the USA Falcons as a reserve against the Toyota Cheetahs and started against the Pumas. He then traveled with the Eagles to Dubai for the Final 2023 Rugby World Cup Qualification Tournament and was named to the roster for the final match against Portugal, but did not play.
Tavite played in the 2021 USA Club Sevens Nationals with Life West Gladiators and his performance led to his being drafted by the Seawolves in the 2021 MLR Collegiate draft.
He attended the 2021 USA u23 High-Performance Camp and beat the All-Canadian Universities XV team. This led to his selection with the USA National Team making his debut against Canada at St John’s, Newfoundland on September 4, 2021. The last of his 5 tests, starting 4, was against New Zealand All Blacks at FedEx Field on October 23, 2021. He has scored one try in test play.
Tavite is from Haywood, California. He attended Tennyson High School, graduating in 2016, and playing basketball and football. He played for the USA Rugby U19s against Canada in 2016.
Tavite attended Saint Mary’s College of California and played rugby. He was a 2019 Collegiate All-American 1st team selection, as well as a Rudy Scholz Award nominee.
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