Date of birth | September 1, 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | Tonga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 245 lb (111 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Haileybury College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Fakaʻosi Pifeleti (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kapeli Pifeleti (born September 1, 1999)[3] is a rugby union player who plays as a hooker and prop for Saracens in Premiership Rugby and the United States national team. Born in Tonga,[4] Pifeleti has also represented the United States with the USA Selects and England with the England national under-18 team.
Pifeleti played for Saracens F.C. in 2017 and 2018, making appearances with the Saracens Storm and Saracens Under-18 sides.[5][6]
In late 2018, it was announced that Pifeleti would play for the San Diego Legion during Major League Rugby's 2019 season.[4] Pifeleti made his debut for the Legion on January 27, 2019, appearing as a substitute and playing at prop, in a 25–23 defeat to Rugby United New York.[7] Pifeleti made his first start for the Legion on February 9, 2019, playing at hooker, in a 17–13 victory over Houston.[8]
Pifeleti was named to the roster for the England national under-18 team in 2018.[9]
Having lived several years in San Francisco while growing up, Pifeleti was eligible to play for the USA.[10] Pifeleti was named to the roster for the USA Selects ahead of the 2018 Americas Pacific Challenge.[11] However, he did not make an appearance for the team during the competition.[4]
Pifeleti made his debut for the USA Eagles on February 23, 2019, appearing as a substitute, in the Eagles' 33–28 victory over Brazil during the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship.[12] Pifeleti qualified to represent the United States by meeting World Rugby's residency requirement.[13]
Pifeleti has an older brother, Fakaʻosi Pifeleti, who also plays rugby as a prop for the San Diego Legion.[13] Their father, ʻOtenili Pifeleti, played rugby for the Tonga national and Samoa national teams,[14] and served as captain of the former during the 1980s.[15]
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