Fuifui Moimoi
Encyclopedia
Fuifui Moana Moimoi is a New Zealand-Tonga
n professional rugby league
footballer for the Parramatta Eels
in the National Rugby League
competition.
and Glenora Bears
junior, Moimoi was spotted by then New Zealand Warriors
coach Daniel Anderson
in 2002 while playing in the Bartercard Cup
for the Mt Albert Lions
. Moimoi then joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs
for the 2003 season as a trialist. He made his first grade debut for the Parramatta Eels in 2004. On 20 April 2010, Moimoi signed a further 2 year contact and will continue to play with the Eels until the end of 2012.
.
Moimoi is eligible to play for Tonga as well as either Australia, New Zealand or the United States and Samoa. Australian Rugby League
chief executive Geoff Carr
revealed Australian selectors asked about the eligibility of Moimoi.
On Monday 24 September 2007, the New Zealand Rugby League association confirmed Fuifui Moimoi's inclusion into the Kiwis train-On squad to take on Australia, Great Britain and France for the end of season tests. Moimoi made his debut for New Zealand
in a 58–0 defeat to Australia in Wellington on 14 October 2007.
He was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
. He was also named in the Tonga squad. Moimoi was not selected for the final New Zealand squad, and because he had recently played for New Zealand, he was ruled ineligible for the Tongan side. He contested his right to play for Tonga in court, but to no avail.
After a career season in 2009, Moimoi returned to the New Zealand national team, being cleared by the RLIF to play in the Four Nations.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
competition.
Playing career
A Point Chevalier PiratesPoint Chevalier Pirates
The Point Chevalier Pirates are an Auckland rugby league club based in Point Chevalier. The Pirates currently compete in the Phelan Shield competition run by the Auckland Rugby League.-History:The club was founded in 1920....
and Glenora Bears
Glenora Bears
The Glenora Bears are a rugby league football club based in Glen Eden, New Zealand who compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. The club was established in 1931...
junior, Moimoi was spotted by then New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
coach Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson (rugby league)
Daniel Anderson is an Australian rugby league football coach. Anderson previously coached in Australia, New Zealand and England and is particularly noted for his work with the development of younger players.-Early years:...
in 2002 while playing in the Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
for the Mt Albert Lions
Mt Albert Lions
The Mount Albert Lions are a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. The Lions home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark. In 2008 and 2009 the Lions won the Fox Memorial....
. Moimoi then joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
for the 2003 season as a trialist. He made his first grade debut for the Parramatta Eels in 2004. On 20 April 2010, Moimoi signed a further 2 year contact and will continue to play with the Eels until the end of 2012.
Representative career
On Tuesday 10 September 2007, News.com.au reported Australian selectors have inquired about the international eligibility of Moimoi. Moimoi grew up in New Zealand, was born in Tonga and qualifies for Australia under residency rules as well as being eligible for American SamoaAmerican Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
.
Moimoi is eligible to play for Tonga as well as either Australia, New Zealand or the United States and Samoa. Australian Rugby League
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
chief executive Geoff Carr
Geoff Carr
Geoff Carr is the CEO of the Australian Rugby League as well as the New South Wales Rugby League. He is also a retired rugby league footballer, having played first grade in the NSWRL premiership with the St. George Dragons during the 1970s and reached the 1971 grand final with them.Carr was...
revealed Australian selectors asked about the eligibility of Moimoi.
On Monday 24 September 2007, the New Zealand Rugby League association confirmed Fuifui Moimoi's inclusion into the Kiwis train-On squad to take on Australia, Great Britain and France for the end of season tests. Moimoi made his debut for New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in a 58–0 defeat to Australia in Wellington on 14 October 2007.
He was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
. He was also named in the Tonga squad. Moimoi was not selected for the final New Zealand squad, and because he had recently played for New Zealand, he was ruled ineligible for the Tongan side. He contested his right to play for Tonga in court, but to no avail.
After a career season in 2009, Moimoi returned to the New Zealand national team, being cleared by the RLIF to play in the Four Nations.