Mahonri Schwalger
Encyclopedia
Mahonri Schwalger is a professional rugby union
footballer who plays for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition and for Taranaki
in the ITM Cup. He is also currently the captain of the Samoan national team
.
in Auckland. He made his provincial debut in 1999 for Hawke’s Bay
against Waikato
, and went on to play 44 matches for the province.
Schwalger moved to Wellington for the 2004 provincial season, and his solid showing for the Lions saw him drafted to the Highlanders for the 2005 Super 12 season
. He made 5 appearances for the Highlanders, serving as backup at hooker to All Black Anton Oliver
.
After two more seasons with Wellington, Schwalger was selected to the Hurricanes for the 2007 Super 14 season
. For the Hurricanes, he made 9 appearances including one start.
In 2007, Schwalger moved to Europe, signing with the Llanelli Scarlets
in the Magners League
. After two seasons with the Scarlets, he signed with the Sale Sharks
in the Guinness Premiership
. Schwalgar left Sale at the start of the 2010-11 season to return to New Zealand, and signed with Taranaki
for the remainder of the 2010 ITM Cup
.
After a solid performance with Taranaki, Schwalger earned a Super Rugby contract with the Highlanders, where he previously played in 2005. He made 12 appearances including 5 starts over the course of the 2011 season.
After the Highlanders signing of Andrew Hore
, Schwalger was surplus to requirements and signed with the Chiefs for the 2012 season.
in 2000 against Wales
and developed into a fixture for the side, representing them at the 2003
and 2007 Rugby World Cup
s. Noted for his leadership skills, he currently serves as team captain.
He was also selected for the Pacific Islanders team
to tour Europe at the end of 2006.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who plays for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition and for Taranaki
Taranaki Rugby Union
Taranaki Rugby Football Union is the governing body of Rugby in the New Zealand province of Taranaki. The main stadium is Yarrow Stadium which is in the main centre of New Plymouth. Taranaki plays in the annual ITM Cup in which it also competes for the Ranfurly shield...
in the ITM Cup. He is also currently the captain of the Samoan national team
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
.
Professional career
Born in Samoa, Schwalger moved to New Zealand in his youth and attended Waitakere CollegeWaitakere College
Waitakere College is a secondary school located in West Auckland, New Zealand. It caters for students from year 9 to year 13.Students entering the college are allocated into one of three "Houses". The house names use Māori words: Aroha , Manawanui , and Matauranga...
in Auckland. He made his provincial debut in 1999 for Hawke’s Bay
Hawke's Bay Rugby Union
The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. The union is based in Napier.-Representative rugby:...
against Waikato
Waikato Rugby Union
The Waikato Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the Waikato area in the North Island of New Zealand. Its senior representative team competes in the ITM Cup , and won the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006.Waikato Rugby Union was founded in 1921...
, and went on to play 44 matches for the province.
Schwalger moved to Wellington for the 2004 provincial season, and his solid showing for the Lions saw him drafted to the Highlanders for the 2005 Super 12 season
2005 Super 12 season
The 2005 Super 12 season was the tenth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2005, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi finals,...
. He made 5 appearances for the Highlanders, serving as backup at hooker to All Black Anton Oliver
Anton Oliver
Anton David Oliver is a retired New Zealand rugby union footballer who most recently played professionally for the French second-division club Toulon, noted for signing veteran greats including former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga and great George Gregan...
.
After two more seasons with Wellington, Schwalger was selected to the Hurricanes for the 2007 Super 14 season
2007 Super 14 season
The 2007 Super 14 season started in February 2007 with preseason matches held from mid-January. It finished on 19 May with the final at ABSA Stadium in Durban, in the first final between two South African teams in the history of Super Rugby...
. For the Hurricanes, he made 9 appearances including one start.
In 2007, Schwalger moved to Europe, signing with the Llanelli Scarlets
Llanelli Scarlets
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...
in the Magners League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
. After two seasons with the Scarlets, he signed with the Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
in the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
. Schwalgar left Sale at the start of the 2010-11 season to return to New Zealand, and signed with Taranaki
Taranaki Rugby Union
Taranaki Rugby Football Union is the governing body of Rugby in the New Zealand province of Taranaki. The main stadium is Yarrow Stadium which is in the main centre of New Plymouth. Taranaki plays in the annual ITM Cup in which it also competes for the Ranfurly shield...
for the remainder of the 2010 ITM Cup
2010 ITM Cup
The 2010 ITM Cup was the 34th provincial rugby union competition, the fifth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the first under the new sponsor of ITM , involving the top 14 provincial unions of New Zealand...
.
After a solid performance with Taranaki, Schwalger earned a Super Rugby contract with the Highlanders, where he previously played in 2005. He made 12 appearances including 5 starts over the course of the 2011 season.
After the Highlanders signing of Andrew Hore
Andrew Hore
For the rugby union coach from New Zealand see Andrew Hore Andrew Hore is a rugby union player who plays for Taranaki in the ITM Cup. He has played for the All Blacks since 2002, in which time he has played 48 tests. His position is hooker...
, Schwalger was surplus to requirements and signed with the Chiefs for the 2012 season.
International career
Schwalger made his debut for the Samoan national teamSamoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
in 2000 against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
and developed into a fixture for the side, representing them at the 2003
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
and 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
s. Noted for his leadership skills, he currently serves as team captain.
He was also selected for the Pacific Islanders team
Pacific Islanders rugby union team
The Pacific Islanders rugby union team is an international rugby union team, started in 2004, that represents Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. While Niue and the Cook Islands are not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they did supply players to the squad for the Pacific Islanders' tour in 2004...
to tour Europe at the end of 2006.
External Links
- Profile at wellingtonlions.co.nz
- Profile at rwc2003.irb.com
- Highlanders Profile