Paul Okesene (/kəsni/) (14 November 1967 – 15 September 2012) was a Samoan rugby league footballer who represented both Western Samoa and American Samoa.

Paul Okesene
Personal information
Born14 November 1967
Auckland, New Zealand
Died15 September 2012(2012-09-15) (aged 44)
France
Playing information
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Manukau Magpies
1988–89 Sheffield Eagles 4 0 0 16
1994 Counties Manukau 22 2 0 0 8
Total 22 6 0 0 24
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1986–91 Auckland
1986–90 Western Samoa 3 1
1992–94 American Samoa 2 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 0
RelativesHitro Okesene (brother)

Background

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His brother, Hitro, also played international rugby league.[citation needed]

Playing career

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A Manukau Magpies junior in the Auckland Rugby League competition,[2] Paul Okesene played for Western Samoa in 1986, at the Pacific Cup. He spent the 1988/89 season with the Sheffield Eagles.[1]

In 1992, he again played in the Pacific Cup, this time for American Samoa.[3]

In 1994, Paul Okesene played for the Counties Manukau Heroes in the new Lion Red Cup. He left the club at the end of the year, signing to play in France.[4]

Later years

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Paul died 15 September 2012 due to a heart attack.[5] At the time of his death, he was working as a bus driver for French rugby union club USA Perpignan.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Paul O'Kesene rugbyleagueproject.org
  2. ^ 1986 Lion Red Rugby League Annual, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1986. p.101
  3. ^ John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. pp. 276–279. ISBN 9781869693312.
  4. ^ Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1994. p.106
  5. ^ Par europe1.fr avec AFP (15 September 2012). "Rugby : le chauffeur des l'Usap décède - Europe1.fr - Multisports". Europe1.fr. Retrieved 16 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Former Manukau league player dies in Spain stuff.co.nz, 19 September 2012