Tautalatasi Tasi Bio
Tautalatasi Tasi (born 22 November 1994) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who currently plays for the Houston SaberCats in Major League Rugby (MLR). Standing 179 cm and weighing 95 kg, he is a versatile back-row athlete capable of operating at wing, centre, and second-row. He also represents the Sunwolves in Super Rugby, adding an international stage to his wide-ranging career.
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Tasi is of Samoan descent and built his reputation across rugby league before transitioning to rugby union. He previously played rugby league for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League (NRL) and has since played professionally in Australia, Japan, Canada, and the United States.
Early Life and Background
Tautalatasi Tasi was born on 22 November 1994 in Auckland, New Zealand. Of Samoan heritage, he relocated to Queensland, Australia at a young age, where he developed his early interest in competitive sport. His upbringing across two rugby-rich nations helped shape his multi-positional approach to the game.
Tasi played his junior rugby league for the Goodna Eagles in Queensland before being signed by the Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Cup. That move marked his first significant step into a structured professional pathway, giving him exposure to higher-level coaching and competition.
Family has played a defining role in his athletic journey. Tasi is the younger brother of former Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos player Lama Tasi. He is also the cousin of Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner, a connection that has reinforced the family’s deep ties to professional rugby.
Path to Rugby
Tasi’s path to senior rugby began in the Queensland Cup system with the Ipswich Jets, where he played during 2013 and 2014. In May 2014, he signed a two-year contract with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, joining their New South Wales Cup feeder programs and sharpening his skills in a professional environment.
After spending time in the Bulldogs’ development system, Tasi joined the North Sydney Bears in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW in 2016. During that season he was elevated to the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ NRL squad, eventually making his NRL debut in round 16 against the Penrith Panthers.
His transition to rugby union came in 2018 when he joined Souths in Queensland Premier Rugby, where he played alongside experienced figures such as Quade Cooper and Karmichael Hunt. Strong performances earned him a spot in the Brisbane City National Rugby Championship (NRC) squad that same year, opening the door to higher-level union competition.
Tautalatasi Tasi Career
Early Career (2013–2017)
Between 2013 and 2015, Tasi progressed through the Queensland Cup and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs development pathways, playing for the Ipswich Jets and the Bulldogs’ New South Wales Cup side. Although he trained with the Bulldogs’ NRL squad in 2015, he did not make a first-grade appearance that year.
His NRL breakthrough arrived in 2016 with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, where he made his top-flight debut off the bench against the Penrith Panthers. He spent most of that year with the North Sydney Bears, scoring 8 tries in 13 appearances, and in 2017 produced a standout five-try performance against the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval in a 42-10 win. He also represented the New South Wales Residents against the Queensland Residents in May 2017.
Super Rugby and National Rugby Championship Breakthrough (2018–2020)
After relocating back to Queensland at the end of 2017, Tasi joined Souths in Queensland Premier Rugby in 2018, where his form earned him selection in the Brisbane City NRC squad. In 2019, he linked up with the Melbourne Rebels as an extended pre-season squad member, appearing in trial matches and a mid-season fixture for a Melbourne XV against Japan A.
He also turned out for the New South Wales Waratahs in 2019 before spending the 2020 Super Rugby season with the Sunwolves, where he made 5 appearances and scored 1 try. A brief stint at Gordon Rugby Club in the Shute Shield followed, rounding out a productive Australian union phase.
International and North American Career (2021–2024)
Following his time in Sydney, Tasi returned to Queensland Premier Rugby with Bond University for the 2021-2022 season. He then took his career abroad, joining Tokyo Gas Rugby Club in Japan for the 2022-2023 campaign, where he delivered a prolific scoring return of 23 tries in 29 appearances across his time with the club.
In 2023, he signed with the Toronto Arrows in Major League Rugby, recording 10 appearances and 2 tries. After the Arrows entered a hiatus following the 2023 season, Tasi moved to the Houston SaberCats for the 2024 MLR season, where he has continued to feature as a versatile back.
Houston SaberCats Era (2024–Present)
Tasi joined the Houston SaberCats for the 2024 Major League Rugby season, providing the franchise with experienced international cover across the back line. Through the early part of his Houston tenure, he has made 3 appearances and scored 1 try, contributing to the team’s attacking structure.
His combination of league-honed physicality and union skills has allowed the SaberCats to deploy him at centre and in wider roles. The move to Major League Rugby represents the latest chapter in a career that has now spanned four countries and multiple competition formats.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although best known for his finishing ability, Tasi’s game is built on versatility and physical presence. Comfortable at wing, centre, and second-row, he offers coaches the flexibility to adapt their back-line structure depending on opposition matchups.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Tasi’s five-try haul for North Sydney against the Wests Tigers in 2017 stands out as one of the most explosive individual performances of his career. His prolific try-scoring record at Tokyo Gas Rugby Club, where he tallied 23 tries in 29 appearances, marks him as one of the more productive imports in Japanese club rugby during his time there.
Tautalatasi Tasi Career Wins
Across rugby league and rugby union, Tautalatasi Tasi has built a reputation as a prolific try-scorer. His most productive stretch came at Tokyo Gas Rugby Club, where he amassed 23 tries in 29 appearances, establishing himself as a reliable finisher in Japanese club rugby.
National Rugby Championship and Australian Club Highlights
During his 2018 Brisbane City NRC campaign, Tasi scored 2 tries in 5 appearances, helping him secure a place in higher-level rugby. The following year he joined the Melbourne Rebels environment, gaining valuable Super Rugby pre-season experience, before moving to the Sunwolves in 2020, where he recorded 1 try in 5 appearances.
Other Wins and Performances
In 2023, Tasi contributed 2 tries in 10 appearances for the Toronto Arrows in Major League Rugby. He has since added 1 try in 3 appearances for the Houston SaberCats, continuing his pattern of consistent attacking output at every professional stop.
Tautalatasi Tasi Family
Family Background and Rugby Lineage
Tasi comes from a family with deep rugby roots. His older brother, Lama Tasi, is a former professional rugby league player who represented the Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos in the NRL. His cousin, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, has also played at the top level, representing the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Personal Life
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, and raised in Queensland, Australia, Tasi carries both New Zealand and Samoan heritage. He has built his professional career across the southern and northern hemispheres, with stints in Australia, Japan, Canada, and the United States shaping his global outlook on the game.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 Major League Rugby season, Tautalatasi Tasi is expected to remain a key contributor for the Houston SaberCats. After registering 1 try in 3 appearances during the 2024 season, he enters the new campaign with momentum and an established role in the team’s back-line rotation.
The SaberCats are likely to continue using his positional flexibility, deploying him at centre and on the wing depending on tactical needs. His experience across Super Rugby, the NRL system, and Japanese club rugby provides a stabilizing presence for a developing Major League Rugby squad.
With the Toronto Arrows still on hiatus and Major League Rugby’s competitive landscape evolving, Tasi’s familiarity with both the SaberCats’ system and North American conditions positions him well for a productive 2025 season. Continued try-scoring contributions and defensive reliability will be central to his outlook.