Francis Poipoi Leota[2] is a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand between 1989 and 1990, including in games that counted towards the 1992 World Cup.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francis Poipoi Leota | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Prop, Second-row | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early years
Leota attended De La Salle College and played rugby union until he was 20.[3]
Playing career
Leota was an Otahuhu Leopards junior, in the Auckland Rugby League competition. He originally played on the wing until he moved into the second row in 1987.[3] He was an Auckland representative and played in three Test matches for the New Zealand national rugby league team between 1989 and 1990.[4] He was a New Zealand Residents representative in 1990 and 1992.[5]
Leota played for the Sheffield Eagles between 1989 and 1991 and also represented the Salford City Reds in England.[6]
In 1993 Leota won the Rothville Trophy for Otahuhu, which is awarded to the ARL's player of the year.[5] Also in 1993 Leota played for Auckland and represented an Otago Invitational XIII that played the New Zealand Māori side.[7][8]
In 1994 Leota played for the Waikato Cougars in the new Lion Red Cup.[9] He played for the champion Counties Manukau Heroes in 1996.[10]