April_Ngatupuna

April Ngatupuna

April Ngatupuna

Cook Islands international rugby league player

April Ngatupuna (born 20 April 2003) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Women's Premiership.

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A prop or lock, she previously played for the Gold Coast Titans and for the Queensland Reds in Super W.

Background

Ngatupuna was born in Porirua, New Zealand and is of Cook Islander and Samoan descent. In Porirua, she played rugby union for the Northern United Rugby Club and attended Porirua College before moving to Brisbane, Queensland.

In Brisbane, Ngatupuna attended Marsden State High School and played junior rugby league for the Wests Panthers.[2]

Playing career

Early career

In 2021, Ngatupuna played for the Panthers in the QRL under-19 competition and for Valkyries in the QRL Women's Premiership.[3] In June 2021, she represented Queensland under-19.[4]

In June 2021, Ngatupuna made her Super W debut for the Queensland Reds in Round 1 of the 2021 Super W season in a 47-26 loss vs the NSW Waratahs.[5]

In August 2021, she signed with the Gold Coast Titans.[6]

2022

In Round 2 of the delayed 2021 NRL Women's season, Ngatupuna made her NRLW debut against the Sydney Roosters.[7][8] Following the NRLW season, Ngatupuna played for the North Queensland Gold Stars in the QRL Women's Premiership, starting at prop in their Grand Final win over the Central Queensland Capras.[9] In June, she represented Queensland under-19 for the second time.[10]

Ngatupuna returned to the Titans for the 2022 NRL Women's season, playing just one game.[11]

In November, Ngatupuna represented the Cook Islands at the Women's World Cup, playing three games and scoring a try in their 26–18 win over France.[12]

2023

Ngatupuna began the 2023 season playing for the Souths Logan Magpies in the QRL Women's Premiership.[13]

On 10 May, she signed a two-year contract with the North Queensland Cowboys.[14]

In Round 1 of the 2023 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Cowboys, coming off the bench in a 16–6 loss to the Gold Coast Titans.[15] In Round 3, she scored her first NRLW try in a 40–12 loss to the Brisbane Broncos.[16]

References

  1. [1]
    "April Ngatupuna - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. [2]
    "Keebra Park SHS v Marsden SHS Girls". Gold Coast Bulletin. 26 August 2020.
  3. [3]
    "Gold Coast Titans release full 20-player squad ahead of inaugural NRLW campaign". Gold Coast Bulletin. 13 August 2021.
  4. [4]
    "2021 Qld under-19 womens squad named". 18th Man. 29 May 2021.
  5. [5]
    "St George Queensland Reds defeated in Buildcorp Super W season opener". reds.rugby. 19 June 2021.
  6. [6]
    "First Look: Inaugural Titans NRLW squad revealed". Gold Coast Titans. 13 August 2021.
  7. [7]
    "NRLW 2021 Team lists round 2". NRL.com. 1 March 2022.
  8. [8]
    "March debut for April, with Ngatupuna added to NRLW side". titans.com.au.
  9. [9]
    "More stars return to boost Gold Stars". QRL. 22 April 2022.
  10. [10]
    "Rubys headline strong Queensland Under 19 women's team". QRL. 16 June 2022.
  11. [11]
    "Three changes for must-win NRLW clash in Melbourne". Gold Coast Titans. 6 September 2022.
  12. [12]
    "Cook Islands hold off France in York". Rugby League World Cup. 11 November 2022.
  13. [13]
    "2023 QRL Women's BMD Premiership Round 4". LeagueUnlimited. 1 April 2023.
  14. [14]
    "Cowboys announce six NRLW signing". NQ Cowboys. 10 May 2023.
  15. [15]
    "Final team list: Eight Cowboys named to make NRLW debuts". NQ Cowboys. 22 July 2023.
  16. [16]
    "Broncos bag first win as Mele mauls Cowboys". NRL.com. 5 August 2023.
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