Lelia Masaga
Encyclopedia
Lelia Masaga is a professional rugby union
player from New Zealand
. Masaga is contracted to the Chiefs
in the Super 14
where he plays for them on the wing. He is nicknamed the Flash and is also the youngest member of the team. His career was highlighted by selection for New Zealand representation in the 2006 Under 21 Rugby World Cup in France. Masaga was the top try scorer in the tournament with 7 tries.
The NZRFU's controversial decision to 'recondition' established All Black
test players including Chiefs anchors Sitiveni Sivivatu
and Mils Muliaina
allowed Masaga to cement his position in the side. Despite early losses in the 2007 season, coaches Ian Foster and Warren Gatland
showed patience and trust in the young winger who has performed remarkably well, co-leading the tournament as top try scorer with 8 tries going into the last round. He was included in the All Blacks
squad for the 2009 Iveco Series to cover for injuries when he earned his first test cap against Italy on June 27, 2009.
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 from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Masaga is contracted to the Chiefs
Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)
The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys...
in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
where he plays for them on the wing. He is nicknamed the Flash and is also the youngest member of the team. His career was highlighted by selection for New Zealand representation in the 2006 Under 21 Rugby World Cup in France. Masaga was the top try scorer in the tournament with 7 tries.
The NZRFU's controversial decision to 'recondition' established All Black
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
test players including Chiefs anchors Sitiveni Sivivatu
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Sitiveni Waica Sivivatu is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, playing on the position of a wing. He was largely successful in the 2005 Super 12 season playing for the Chiefs, and acquired a starting position in the All Blacks. He has scored 29 tries in 45 tests...
and Mils Muliaina
Mils Muliaina
Junior Malili Muliaina , better known as Mils Muliaina, is a rugby union player. He plays for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and New Zealand at international level. He was born in Salesi, Samoa, then moved with his family to Invercargill, New Zealand, at the age of two...
allowed Masaga to cement his position in the side. Despite early losses in the 2007 season, coaches Ian Foster and Warren Gatland
Warren Gatland
Warren David Gatland is a former New Zealand rugby footballer and the current head coach of the Wales national team.Gatland was born in Hamilton, New Zealand and educated at Hamilton Boys' High School and Waikato University...
showed patience and trust in the young winger who has performed remarkably well, co-leading the tournament as top try scorer with 8 tries going into the last round. He was included in the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
squad for the 2009 Iveco Series to cover for injuries when he earned his first test cap against Italy on June 27, 2009.