Leicester Fainga'anuku

BIOGRAPHY

Leicester Fainga’anuku is a former Nelson College 1st XV standout who won the Phillip McDonald Memorial Medal for MVP of the UC Championship in 2017. He represented NZ Secondary Schools, the Junior Crusaders, the Crusaders Development XV and the New Zealand Under-20 side.

Fainga’anuku made his provincial debut for the Tasman Mako in 2018 and earned his first appearance for the Crusaders in 2019. He was integral in Tasman’s back-to-back NPC titles in 2019 and 2020.

Since making his All Blacks debut in July 2022, Leicester has been capped in seven Tests (2022-23) and scored several tries, including a hat-trick versus Uruguay at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. After an 18-month stint with French club Toulon, he returned to New Zealand ahead of the 2025 season and was recalled to the All Blacks squad in September 2025 as injury cover. His versatility across wing and midfield, strong finish-rate and international experience make him an exciting addition to the All Blacks stocks.