Wallace Sititi is a New Zealand rugby union player who has emerged as one of the most dynamic loose forwards in the modern game.
Born on 7 September 2002 in Apia, Samoa, he stands 1.87 metres tall and weighs 113 kilograms, combining power, athleticism and sharp handling skills in the number eight and flanker positions.
He currently plays for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific and North Harbour in the Bunnings NPC, while representing the All Blacks at international level.
Sititi qualifies for New Zealand through residency after his family settled in Auckland.
He is the son of former Manu Samoa captain and Hurricanes loose forward Lemalu Semo Sititi and Rosalind Sititi.
Siblings
Wallace is the second eldest of four children in a close-knit Samoan family.
His older sister, Maruseana Sititi, was born several years earlier and shared much of the family’s itinerant early life across Scotland, Japan and England before settling in New Zealand around her mid-teens.
In 2025 she reached the finals of the Miss Samoa pageant and finished as runner-up, while continuing to carve her own path in community and cultural work.
The two younger siblings were both born in Japan.
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Sister Amarante, who completed her final year at Auckland Grammar School as head girl, has followed the family tradition into rugby, playing in the back row for Auckland Storm and earning Emerging Player of the Year recognition.
The youngest, Semo Junior, attends De La Salle College like his older brother and participates in rugby among a range of sports.
Career
Sititi’s professional pathway began in 2022 when he made his National Provincial Championship debut for North Harbour and earned selection for the New Zealand Under-20 side, scoring two tries in limited appearances.
He captained the Blues Under-20 team the same year and continued developing with North Harbour through the 2023 Bunnings NPC season.
In 2023 he joined the Chiefs wider training group, then forced his way into the Super Rugby Pacific squad for 2024.
That season proved transformative.
Despite time out for knee surgery, Sititi delivered standout performances, including a man-of-the-match display in the Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Hurricanes in which he made 15 carries for 150 metres, 13 tackles and two interceptions.
His form earned him a place in Scott Robertson’s first All Blacks squad of 2024 as the youngest member.
He made his Test debut as a replacement against Fiji in San Diego on 20 July 2024 and quickly became a regular presence in the back row, combining physical ball-carrying with high work rates in defence.
By early 2026 he had accumulated solid numbers of appearances for both the Chiefs and the All Blacks, re-signing with New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs through to the end of 2027.
Accolades
Sititi was named World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco, recognition of his rapid rise from Super Rugby newcomer to established international.
The same year he collected the All Blacks Player of the Year award at the ASB New Zealand Rugby Awards, an achievement he described as an unexpected honour that reflected the trust coaches had placed in him.
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