Mahonri Schwalger

Mahonri Schwalger

Date of birth	15 September 1978 (1978-09-15) (age 33)
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	106 kg (16 st 10 lb)
School	Waitakere College, Auckland
Notable relative(s)	John Schwalger (nephew)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Hooker
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2007–2009 2009–2010	Scarlets Sale Sharks	16 17	(5) (0)
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1999-2003 2004-2006 2010-	Hawke's Bay Wellington Taranaki	44 32 8	(25) (5)
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2005 2007 2011 2012-	Highlanders Hurricanes Highlanders Chiefs	5 9 12	(0) (0) (0)
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2000– 2006	Samoa Pacific Islanders	36 2	(20) (0)

Mahonri Schwalger (born 15 September 1978 in Apia, Samoa) 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.

Career

Professional career

Born in Samoa, Schwalger moved to New Zealand in his youth and attended Waitakere College 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.

International career

Schwalger made his debut for the Samoan national team in 2000 against Wales and developed into a fixture for the side, representing them at the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. 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.

External Links

• Profile at wellingtonlions.co.nz
• Profile at rwc2003.irb.com
• Highlanders Profile

Persondata
Name	Schwalger, Mahonri
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	15 September 1978
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death