The Toronto Arrows acquired Te Rangatira Waitokia in exchange for 2024 salary cap considerations from Rugby ATL. The 27-year-old fullback/wing/center (28 in April) is 5’11” and 200 lbs.
Waitokia is the third non-domestic player from Rugby ATL who has been traded to the Toronto Arrows ahead of ATL’s relocation and freeing up salary and international spots on their roster with Rewita Biddle and Jordan Brown also traded. The Arrows benefit as they make their player adjustments for the 2024 Major League Rugby season.
Waitokia will join the team after playing for Manawatu in the Bunnings National Provincial Championship in New Zealand where he has made over 25 appearances.
Waitokia, who has made 42 appearances for Rugby ATL, played 1120 minutes in 14 starts and scored 8 tries for Rugby ATL in 2023. In 2022 he played 1126 minutes in 15 matches, starting 14, carrying for 1,178 meters, and scoring 5 tries. In 2021 he played 957 minutes in 13 starts and scored one try.
Waitokia grew up in Wanganui, New Zealand, and attended Cullinane College. He played with Manawatu Club in the Varsity competition in 2015 and 2016 and with the Manawatu U19s and Metro Colts.
In 2016 he played wing and fullback for Wanganui in the Heartland Championship scoring 12 tries in 11 matches, earning Heartland Player of the Year honors. He also played for the New Zealand Heartland XV.
Since 2017 he has played for the Manawatu Turbos in the Mitre 10 Cup/NPC, except for the 2022 season where he played one match for Tasman. He also played for New Zealand Universities in 2018 and 2019 and toured Japan and Singapore.
Waitokia played for the All Blacks Sevens in a preseason tournament in 2019, the Oceania Sevens, and the New Zealand Sevens Development team on their Japan tour.
Toronto Arrows Comments
Waitokia, 27, arrives in Toronto after featuring in 42 matches (41 starts) for Rugby ATL over the past three Major League Rugby seasons, scoring 14 tries and racing for 3,350 carry metres on 309 carries. Statistically, the Kiwi’s 2023 campaign was his most productive to date: he racked up eight tries, 1,166 carry metres on 111 carries, 110 tackles, 23 defenders beaten, seven offloads, and five clean breaks.
“Te has been one of the top backs in Major League Rugby over the past three seasons,” said Tim Matthews, Toronto Arrows Vice President and General Manager. “His combination of speed, creativity, and durability makes him a very dynamic addition and he’ll bring plenty to our group of backs this upcoming season. We’re looking forward to welcoming him to Toronto.”
Waitokia hails from Wanganui, New Zealand – the same hometown as Arrow #10 Sam Malcolm; the two were teammates for several years at Manawatu.
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