PAULA FIFITA

  • Position:                   2nd Five / Centre / Wing / Fullback
  • SENIORS:                 2013 - 2015, 2021 - 2024
  • SENIOR Caps:          89
  • 2013 - 2015 SC Heartland Squad
  • 2021 - 2025 SC Heartland Squad
  • 2021 NZ Heartland XV
  • 2022 NZ Heartland XV
  • 2023 NZ Heartland XV
  • 2024 NZ Heartland XV
  • 2024 THRFC Sportsperson of the Year


The 2024 New Zealand Heartland XV team is (*denotes potential debut);

  • Anthony Amato (South Canterbury) *Matty Axtens (Thames Valley)
  • *Quinn Collard (Thames Valley)
  • *Toddy Doolan (Thames Valley)
  • *Hika Elliot (South Canterbury)
  • *Sione Etoni (Thames Valley)
  • *Oneone Faafou (Thames Valley)
  • Tokoma’ata Fakatava (South Canterbury)
  • Paula Fifita (South Canterbury)
  • Kaleb Foote (King Country)
  • Kristian Gent-Standen (King Country)
  • *Poleka Itielu (Horowhenua-Kapiti)
  • *Finlay Joyce (South Canterbury)
  • *Siu Kakala (South Canterbury)
  • *Te Huia Kutia (Thames Valley)
  • Peceli Malanicagi  (Whanganui)
  • Declan McCormack (Mid Canterbury)
  • *Clarence Moli (South Canterbury)
  • *Ethan Robinson (Whanganui)
  • *Tyler Rogers Holden (Whanganui)
  • *Raitube Vasurakuta (Mid Canterbury)
  • Logan Wakefield (Wairarapa Bush)
  • *Dallas Wiki (Horowhenua-Kapiti)
  • *Adam Williamson (Mid Canterbury)
  • William Wright (South Canterbury) 
  • Head Coach – Nigel Walsh (South Canterbury)
  • Assistant Coach – Miah Nikora (Poverty Bay)
  • Observer Coach – Aleni Feagaiga (Horowhenua-Kapiti)
  • Observer Coach -- David Harrison (Thames Valley) 
  • Manager – Tommy Zimmerman (Horowhenua-Kapiti)
  • Physio – Geoff Thompson (South Canterbury)
  • Trainer – Slade King (Rotorua)

Heartland XV rugby squad contains seven South Cantabrians

Doug Sail 15:39, Oct 18 2023

The NZ Heartland XV squad is:

  • Adam Williamson (Mid-Canterbury),
  • Connor Anderson* (South Canterbury),
  • Dane Whale (Whanganui),
  • Douglas Horrocks* (Whanganui),
  • Finlay Joyce* (South Canterbury),
  • Fletcher Morgan* (Thames Valley),
  • Joshua Clark (North Otago),
  • Junior Fakatoufifita (North Otago),
  • Kaleb Foote (King Country),
  • Keanu Taumata* (Poverty Bay),
  • Leopino Maupese* (Buller),
  • Lindsay Horrocks (Whanganui),
  • Paula Fifita (South Canterbury),
  • Peceli Malanicagi* (Whanganui),
  • Peter-Travis Hay-Horton* (Whanganui),
  • Renata Roberts-Te Nana* (East Coast),
  • Saimone Samate (North Otago),
  • Sam Briggs* (South Canterbury),
  • Shayne Anderson* (West Coast),
  • Tokoma’ata Fakatava (South Canterbury),
  • Tyler Kearns (West Coast),
  • Vaka Taelega (South Canterbury),
  • William Wright (South Canterbury).
  • *Denotes debut.

Schedule:

NZ Heartland XV v Canterbury Development, November 1 (4pm kick-off) Methven Rugby Football Club, Methven.

NZ Heartland XV v NZ Barbarians (2pm kick-off), November 4, Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Ōamaru.


South Canterbury champions dominate NZ Heartland XV representative rugby team

Stuff sports reporters11:41, Oct 27 2022

South Canterbury forwards Cam Russell, Henry Bryce, Nick Strachan, Tokomaata Fakatava and Vaka Taelega have made the cut, alongside backs Willie Wright, Paula Fifita and Zac Saunders.

The New Zealand Heartland XV 2022 team is:

Forwards: Adam Williamson (Mid Canterbury), Cam Russell (South Canterbury), Connor McVerry (Thames Valley), Cruise Dunstar (King Country), Henry Bryce (South Canterbury), Hakarangi Tichborne (Ngati Porou East Coast), Junior Fakatoufifita (North Otago), Kaleb Foote (King Country). Liam Rowlands (King Country), Nick Strachan (South Canterbury), Roman Tutauha (Whanganui), Tokomaata Fakatava (South Canterbury), Vaka Taelega (South Canterbury).

Backs: Dane Whale (Whanganui), Harry Lafituanai (Thames Valley), Hayden Todd (North Otago), Lindsay Horrocks (Whanganui), Paula Fifita (South Canterbury), Saimone Samate (North Otago), Timoci Seruwalu (Whanganui), Todd Doolan (Thames Valley), Willie Wright (South Canterbury), Zac Saunders (South Canterbury).

  • Management: 
  • Head Coach: Nigel Walsh (South Canterbury).
  • Assistant Coach: Jason Hamlin (Whanganui).
  • Manager: Thomas Zimmerman (Horowhenua-Kapiti).
  • Assistant Manager: Shay O’Gorman (Wairarapa-Bush).
  • Team Doctor: Coll Campbell (Poverty Bay).
  • Team Physio: Geoff Thompson (South Canterbury)
  • Team Trainer: Slade King.


The New Zealand Heartland XV 2021 team is:

1. Vaka Taelega (South Canterbury) 2. Sam Van der Valk (Thames Valley) 3. Tokomaata Fakatava (South Canterbury) 4. Campbell Hart (Vice Captain) (Whanganui) 5. Connor McVerry (Thames Valley) 6. Hone Haerewa (Ngāti Porou East Coast) 7. Nick Strachan (Captain) (South Canterbury) 8. Seta Koroitamana (Mid Canterbury) 9. Willie Wright (South Canterbury) 10. Craig Clare (Vice Captain) (Whanganui) 11. Hayden Todd (North Otago) 12. Paula Fifita (South Canterbury) 13. Nick Foxley (Mid Canterbury) 14. Raitube Vasurakuta (Mid Canterbury) 15. Zac Saunders (South Canterbury) Reserves 16. Callum Burrell (Mid Canterbury) 17. James Higgins (Poverty Bay) 18. Te Huia Kutia (Thames Valley) 19. Manasa Samo Bari (Mid Canterbury) 20. Stefan Destounis (Poverty Bay) 21. Lindsay Horrocks (Whanganui) 22. Dane Whale (Whanganui) 23. Tevita Halafihi (Thames Valley)

  • Management:
  • Head Coach: Nigel Walsh (South Canterbury)
  • Assistant Coach: Jason Hamlin (Whanganui)
  • Manager: Tony Harrison (Mid Canterbury)
  • Trainer: Slade King (King Country)
  • Physio: Geoff Thompson (South Canterbury)
  • Doctor: Coll Campbell (Poverty Bay)