New Zealand’s Manase Tu’ungafasi signs to play football at BYU

PROVO, Utah (May 22, 2015) – BYU added to its 2015 recruiting class late Friday night when 6-foot-7, 322-pound rugby player Manase Tu’ungafasi signed to play football for the Cougars from his hometown of Auckland, New Zealand. 

With an 18-hour time difference, Tu’ungafasi officially signed a financial aid agreement to attend BYU on Saturday afternoon in New Zealand, which BYU coaches received late Friday evening in Provo. 

“We are excited to welcome Manase as the newest member of the BYU football program,” BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “He is an excellent athlete with exceptional size coming from a rugby background out of New Zealand. I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Manase, and we look forward to helping him develop as a football player here at BYU.”  

Tu’ungafasi is a 6-foot-7, 322-pound freshman of Tongan heritage who will join the Cougars for fall camp as an offensive lineman. He is the sixth prospect to sign as an offensive lineman in this year's recruiting class.

He prepped at Massey High School and played rugby for Auckland Academy. Tu’ungafasi was recognized for his ability and performance by being one of seven Auckland-based rugby players to be selected to play for the 2014 Samoa Under-20 team at the Junior World Championships.

Tu’ungafasi was also recruited by Utah and Oregon State.