Team

Faleiva, 23, is returning to the Arrows for a second campaign after featuring in 14 matches (three starts) for the club in his debut season.

The six-foot-four, 285-pound forward made strong strides over the course of his first year in blue and white, posting 595 carry metres on 76 carries, 86 ruck arrivals, 41 tackles (four dominant), 19 defenders beaten and 10 offloads throughout his rookie season. His four tries represented the second-highest tally across the squad in 2022, trailing only fellow front-rower Jack McRogers (six).

Faleiva first joined the Arrows from New Zealand National Provincial Championship side Hawke’s Bay; the prop then returned to the Napier-based club over the MLR off-season, where he continued his development in the provincial competition.

Prior to earning a roster spot on his hometown NPC team, Faleiva featured for Netherlands club Bassets in the 2019 Dutch Ereklasse.

The forward has played his grassroots rugby with Taradale on the Hawke’s Bay club circuit (alongside his Magpies teammate and Arrows newcomer Gene Syminton), notably helping to guide the Maroons to the prestigious Nash Cup-Maddison Trophy double in late 2021.

Updated: Nov. 9, 2022