Paul Lasike Bio
Paul Lasike is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who currently plays for the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby (MLR). He also represents the United States national rugby union team in international competition. Earlier in his athletic career, Lasike played American football as a fullback in the National Football League (NFL). He played both college football and college rugby at Brigham Young University, building a rare two-sport profile at the highest levels of competition.
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Lasike has combined physical power, open-field speed, and defensive toughness throughout his career. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and competing at around 250 pounds, he has the frame of a football fullback and the footwork of a rugby centre. His professional journey has moved between hemispheres and across codes, giving him a unique sporting résumé that few American-based athletes can match.
Early Life and Background
Paul Lasike was born on 18 June 1990 in Auckland, New Zealand, and grew up in a large family as one of ten children in an ethnic Tongan household. His upbringing in Auckland placed him in one of the strongest rugby environments in the world, where the sport is woven into community life from a young age. The combination of a busy family home and a rugby-rich city helped shape his early interest in competitive sports.
Lasike attended Church College of New Zealand for his secondary education, where he developed the physical foundation that would later serve him in both football and rugby. After high school, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Alabama, an experience that deepened his discipline and introduced him more closely to American life. The mission also created a direct pathway to college in the United States through Brigham Young University.
At Brigham Young University, Lasike pursued studies while competing in two sports. He joined the BYU college football program and also joined the BYU rugby program, where he earned a scholarship to play the fifteen-a-side game. Training and competing in both football and rugby during his college years broadened his skill set and prepared him for the unusual transition that defined his professional career.
Path to Rugby
Lasike’s path to professional rugby began with his standout play for BYU in the college rugby system. His performances in the university ranks attracted attention from selectors of the United States national rugby union team. In 2018, he was called into the national squad for the Americas Rugby Championship, where he earned his international debut against Chile. The cap marked his arrival as a senior international rugby player.
That same year, Lasike joined the Utah Warriors for the inaugural 2018 Major League Rugby season, becoming part of the league’s first wave of professional players in North America. On 3 August 2018, he travelled to England to join Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership for the 2018–19 season, adding top-flight English rugby to his résumé. The move to the Premiership showed that he could compete at the highest club level on either side of the Atlantic.
Paul Lasike Career
Early Career (2013–2017)
Before turning to rugby, Lasike built a foundation in American football at Brigham Young University, where he played as a fullback in the college ranks. His combination of size, speed, and open-field vision drew the attention of NFL scouts. He entered the 2015 NFL Draft cycle as a prospect capable of contributing on special teams and as a ball carrier out of the backfield.
In May 2015, Lasike was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Arizona Cardinals, beginning his professional football career. He was waived on 5 September 2015 but was quickly picked up by the Chicago Bears, who added him to their practice squad the following day. Although his contract was briefly terminated because of visa issues, he was re-signed to the Bears’ practice squad on 21 September 2015 and continued to develop within the organization.
Chicago Bears Breakthrough (2015–2017)
Lasike’s most meaningful NFL stretch came with the Chicago Bears, where he spent parts of three seasons moving between the practice squad and the active roster. On 4 January 2016, he signed a futures contract with the Bears, securing a longer-term place in the organization. His perseverance through multiple releases and re-signings reflected a player determined to keep his NFL dream alive.
On 5 October 2016, Lasike was elevated to the Bears’ active roster for the first time, and on 12 November 2016, he was promoted again to the active roster after a short spell on the practice squad. During his time in Chicago, he recorded 8 rushing yards on 3 carries, 1 reception for 3 receiving yards, and averaged 2.7 yards per rushing attempt. He was waived by the Bears on 11 May 2017, closing his NFL career and opening the door for his switch to professional rugby.
Utah Warriors Era (2018–Present)
Lasike joined the Utah Warriors for Major League Rugby’s debut season in 2018, helping establish the franchise as one of the new league’s founding teams. He played the 2018–19 English club season with Harlequins in the Premiership, then returned to the United States. In 2022, he had a short stint with London Scottish F.C. before re-joining the Utah Warriors later that same year, where he has remained a central figure in the squad.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a rugby centre, Lasike combines a power-running style with the spatial awareness he developed as an NFL fullback. He excels at gaining ground after contact, breaking the defensive line through direct carries, and providing a strong defensive presence in the midfield. His background in two collision sports gives him an edge in physical exchanges and in reading opposing attacking patterns.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Lasike’s career include his 2015 undrafted free-agent signing with the Arizona Cardinals, his multiple promotions to the Chicago Bears’ active roster between 2015 and 2017, his international debut for the United States against Chile in 2018, and his place in the inaugural Utah Warriors squad. Each step reflects a career built on resilience, versatility, and a willingness to switch codes at the highest level.
Paul Lasike Career Wins
Paul Lasike’s professional record is defined less by a single championship tally and more by a series of breakthrough appearances across two sports. In the NFL, he earned time on an active regular-season roster with the Chicago Bears between 2015 and 2017. In rugby, he has been part of Major League Rugby competition with the Utah Warriors and has tested himself in the English Premiership with Harlequins and at London Scottish F.C.
Major League Rugby Highlights
Lasike has been a regular contributor for the Utah Warriors since Major League Rugby’s launch in 2018, appearing across multiple seasons in the centres. He rejoined the franchise in 2022 after a spell in England and has continued to feature in the team’s midfield rotation. His role with the Warriors has been as a physical ball-carrier and a defensive organizer rather than as a headline try-scorer.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his Major League Rugby appearances, Lasike gained valuable experience in the English top flight with Harlequins during the 2018–19 Gallagher Premiership season. He also featured for London Scottish F.C. in 2022 in the lower tiers of English rugby. Internationally, he represented the United States in the Americas Rugby Championship, adding a national-team appearance to his career list.
Paul Lasike Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Lasike comes from a large Tongan family in Auckland and is one of ten children. His Pacific Island heritage has been a defining part of his identity, with the cultural expectation of community service and athletic participation shaping his upbringing. The size of his family helped build the toughness and self-reliance that have marked his athletic career.
Personal Life
Paul Lasike is married to Ani Lasike, a native of Santos, Brazil. Ani’s family relocated to Sacramento, California, when she was in her early teens, and the couple has built their life together around his professional sporting career. Lasike’s religious faith, developed during his time in Alabama and at Brigham Young University, continues to play a central role in his family life.
2025 Season Performance
Lasike entered the 2025 Major League Rugby season continuing his long association with the Utah Warriors, having returned to the franchise in 2022. The Warriors view him as a senior presence in the centres, valued for his contact work, kicking game, and leadership in the midfield channel. His familiarity with the league, built since the inaugural 2018 season, gives the coaching staff a reliable option in high-pressure moments.
Throughout the 2025 campaign, Lasike has been deployed in a physical ball-carrying role, often used to break the gain line early in phases and to provide a defensive edge around the ruck. His NFL background continues to inform his training habits, particularly in contact preparation and recovery. The combination of experience and athleticism has allowed him to remain a starter-level contributor in a competitive MLR midfield.
Looking forward, the 2025 season represents another opportunity for Lasike to add to a career that has already spanned two professional sports. With his contract running through 2025 with the Utah Warriors, he remains central to the franchise’s push for playoff success. His continued presence offers both on-field production and a veteran voice in a young and growing Major League Rugby competition.