Johnny Leota
Encyclopedia
Johnny Leota is a professional rugby union
player who played for Manawatu
in the ITM Cup. He signed for Sale Sharks
in the Summer of 2011. In 2011 Leota also made his international debut, playing for Samoa
.
in 2004 and developed into a fixture for the province, playing his 50th match in 2009. As part of his move to the Highlanders in 2008, he 'signed' with Otago, but was immediately loaned back to Manawatu.
Leota missed most of the 2010 ITM Cup
through injury, making only two appearances for the Turbos. He returned to action with Manawatu for the 2011 season
.
, and established himself as a key member of the squad, starting 12 of the team's 13 games and scoring two tries in the process.
In 2009
, Leota again made 12 appearances for the Highlanders, but was reduced to 6 starts and was used mainly as a substitute through the second half of the season.
Leota was not retained by the Highlanders for the 2010 Super 14 season
, and instead found himself in the wider training group of the Hurricanes. However, he did not make an appearance for the squad and was not brought back after missing most of the 2010 provincial season through injury.
's 2011 Pacific Nations Cup
campaign, in the leadup to the 2011 Rugby World Cup
. He made his international debut for Samoa against Tonga
in Lautoka, Fiji. Shortly thereafter he returned to New Zealand and resumed provincial duties for Manawatu.
player in the Silver Ferns
and the Southern Steel
. The couple married in 2010 in Rarotonga, and have one daughter, Brooklyn.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player who played for Manawatu
Manawatu Rugby Union
Manawatu Rugby Union is the governing body of the sport of Rugby union in the Manawatu rugby province. The Union is based in the city of Palmerston North but has a catchment area from nearby towns in the province, including Feilding, Rongotea, Linton, Bulls, Pahiatua, Dannevirke and...
in the ITM Cup. He signed for Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
in the Summer of 2011. In 2011 Leota also made his international debut, playing for Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
.
Provincial rugby
Leota debuted for ManawatuManawatu Rugby Union
Manawatu Rugby Union is the governing body of the sport of Rugby union in the Manawatu rugby province. The Union is based in the city of Palmerston North but has a catchment area from nearby towns in the province, including Feilding, Rongotea, Linton, Bulls, Pahiatua, Dannevirke and...
in 2004 and developed into a fixture for the province, playing his 50th match in 2009. As part of his move to the Highlanders in 2008, he 'signed' with Otago, but was immediately loaned back to Manawatu.
Leota missed most of the 2010 ITM Cup
2010 ITM Cup
The 2010 ITM Cup was the 34th provincial rugby union competition, the fifth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the first under the new sponsor of ITM , involving the top 14 provincial unions of New Zealand...
through injury, making only two appearances for the Turbos. He returned to action with Manawatu for the 2011 season
2011 ITM Cup
The 2011 ITM Cup is the 35th provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand, the sixth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the second under the new sponsor of ITM ....
.
Super Rugby
Leota was signed by the Highlanders for the 2008 Super 14 season2008 Super 14 season
The 2008 Super 14 season started in February 2008 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 31 May, when the Crusaders won their seventh Super Rugby title with a 20–12 victory over the Waratahs in front of the Crusaders' home fans. The 2008 season was the third of the expansion,...
, and established himself as a key member of the squad, starting 12 of the team's 13 games and scoring two tries in the process.
In 2009
2009 Super 14 season
The 2009 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2009 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 30 May, when the Bulls won their second Super Rugby title with a decisive 61–17 victory over the Waikato Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. The 2009 season...
, Leota again made 12 appearances for the Highlanders, but was reduced to 6 starts and was used mainly as a substitute through the second half of the season.
Leota was not retained by the Highlanders for the 2010 Super 14 season
2010 Super 14 season
The 2010 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2010 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 29 May. The 2010 season was the fifth and last season of the expanded Super 14 format. The schedule, which covers 3½ months, featured a total of 94 matches, with each team playing one...
, and instead found himself in the wider training group of the Hurricanes. However, he did not make an appearance for the squad and was not brought back after missing most of the 2010 provincial season through injury.
Representative selection
Leota was one of 25 players selected in the squad for the Samoan national teamSamoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
's 2011 Pacific Nations Cup
2011 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
The 2011 Pacific Nations Cup was a rugby union tournament held between the four national sides on the Pacific Rim: Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga....
campaign, in the leadup to the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
. He made his international debut for Samoa against Tonga
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
in Lautoka, Fiji. Shortly thereafter he returned to New Zealand and resumed provincial duties for Manawatu.
Personal life
Johnny Leota is married to Liana Leota (née Barrett-Chase), a netballNetball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
player in the Silver Ferns
Silver Ferns
The New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent New Zealand in international netball. The team take their nickname from the Silver Tree Fern , which is an iconic emblem for many New Zealand sports teams. The Silver Ferns were formed in 1938 as a representative...
and the Southern Steel
Southern Steel
The Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup, the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting...
. The couple married in 2010 in Rarotonga, and have one daughter, Brooklyn.