Welcome back Roland Suniula

Austin Elite Rugby is excited to welcome back Roland Suniula for the 2020 Major League Rugby season.

Born in Pago Pago, American Samoa, Roland and his family moved to Auckland, New Zealand. Roland along with brother Andrew and Shalom attended the highly regarded Kelston Boys High School, with several of it graduates having gone to play for the All Blacks.

After graduating, Roland took his talent over the bridge where he played club and age grade representative Rugby with Auckland’s neighbouring province North Harbour (2005 to 2008). In 2008, Roland made his debut for the USA Eagles 7’s team in their NAWIRA Rugby World Cup 7’s qualifier. Roland went on to play in 13 IRB Sevens Series tournaments.

In 2009, Roland received his USA Eagles Mens XV’s cap (#405) against Ireland and went onto represent the USA in 20 test matches, he was also a member of the 2011 USA Eagles Rugby World Cup squad. That same year Roland played in the Super League representing the Boston Rugby Club.

2012 saw Roland join his brother Andrew at the Chicago Griffins. After his time in the Super League, he went on to join FC Auch Gers a Pro D2 team based in Auch in Midi-Pyrenees, France. The following year he joined CS Vienne, where he made 18 appearances for the team during the 2013 - 14 Federal 1 season. Roland returned back to the USA after playing two seasons with RC Chalonnais.

2016 saw Roland, join the Ohio Aviators for the inaugural PRO Rugby season, this lead to a coaching role with Tiger Rugby as well as playing for Ohio’s Columbus Rugby Club. Roland moved back to Europe, this time to play for Italian Club, Rugby Reggio in the Italian Eccellenza League.

With the launch of Major League Rugby, Roland joined his brother Andrew in Austin for the 2018 season. 2019 saw Roland, join the Seattle Seawolves where we was reunited with his brother Shalom in the Seawolves backline.

“Roland has played in a high performance environment since high school and has become a leader on the pitch and an ambassador of the game off the pitch, said Todd Clever, Director of Rugby. I had the privilege of playing many times with Roland, I know what a quality man and player he is. We are very excited to welcome him back to Austin”

Welcome back to the herd, Roland Suniula!

The 2020 Major League Rugby season kicks off in February, 2020 and will span seventeen weeks. Season tickets packages available now at austineliterugby.com/tickets