Joseph Wirihana Royal (born 31 May 1985 in Rotorua, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays in the hooker (and occasionally prop) position for provincial side Auckland Gulls and for New Zealand's Māori international side the Māori All Blacks.[1] Royal has previously played club rugby in Auckland before heading to Bay of Plenty Rugby in 2013 and spending 4 seasons with the Bay Steamers. After moving back home to Auckland in 2017 as an injury replacement for the Blues, has played 4 seasons with the Counties Manukau Steelers and is now with both Auckland Rugby in the Bunnings NPC and loaned to Ngāti Porou East Coast in the Heartland Championship.
| Birth name | Joseph Wirihana Royal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 31 May 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 113 kg (249 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Te Aute College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Auckland University of Technology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Kelly Morrison | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | Jerzy-James Royal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal life edit
Royal is a New Zealander of Māori descent (Te Arawa, Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei and Ngāpuhi descent).[2]
References edit
- ^ "Joe Royal Bay of Plenty Profile". Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "5 players from Ngāti Porou named in "Maori All Blacks"". Ngāti Porou East Coast. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
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