James Leuluai
Encyclopedia
A'au James Leuluai is a New Zealand former international rugby league player. His favoured position was centre. He is the father of Wigan Warriors
and New Zealand international Thomas Leuluai
. He is also the uncle of Leeds Rhinos
prop Kylie Leuluai
.
, Wakefield Trinity
and Hull. Leuluai also represented the New Zealand Kiwis and New Zealand Māori
. Between 1979 and 1986 he played in 29 test matches for his country.
He is well known for scoring 2 tries for Hull in the 1984–85 Challenge Cup
final against Wigan Warriors
After he had finished his English career, Leuluai returned to New Zealand and started playing for Wellington
. He helped them defeat Auckland
for the first time in 75 years. It was during this time in Wellington that Leuluai began his coaching career.
in the 1994 Lion Red Cup.
During the early seasons of the Bartercard Cup
, Leuluai was the coach of the Eastern Tornadoes
. He later took on the role of the Junior Kiwis
in 2002.
Between 2003 and 2005 Leuluai was one of Daniel Anderson
s two assistant coaches with the New Zealand Kiwis.
After a career of coaching New Zealand representative sides, Leuluai applied for the head coaching job of the New Zealand Kiwis in 2005 and was heavily favoured to be appointed until he withdrew due to personal reasons. Brian McClennan
was appointed coach instead.
In July 2007 Leuluai again applied to coach the New Zealand Kiwis
but ultimately Gary Kemble
was appointed coach. Leuluai served as assistant under Kemble.
In 2011 Leuluai will co-coach the Mangere East Hawks
in the Auckland Rugby League
competition.
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
and New Zealand international Thomas Leuluai
Thomas Leuluai
Thomas Leuluai is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League. His position is at half-back...
. He is also the uncle of Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
prop Kylie Leuluai
Kylie Leuluai
Kylie Leuluai is a professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Leeds Rhinos of Super League...
.
Playing career
A Mt Wellington junior, in his career Leuluai played for the Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesManly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
, Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
and Hull. Leuluai also represented the New Zealand Kiwis and New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
. Between 1979 and 1986 he played in 29 test matches for his country.
He is well known for scoring 2 tries for Hull in the 1984–85 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final against Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
After he had finished his English career, Leuluai returned to New Zealand and started playing for Wellington
Wellington Rugby League
Wellington Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Greater Wellington region. It is responsible for the local competition of the same name, as well as its representative team, the Wellington rugby league team.- Local Senior Competition :The...
. He helped them defeat Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
for the first time in 75 years. It was during this time in Wellington that Leuluai began his coaching career.
Coaching career
Leuluai was the coach of the Wellington City DukesWellington City Dukes
The Wellington City Dukes were a New Zealand rugby league club that represented Wellington City in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1996. In 1997 one of the two Wellington Rugby League sides that competed in the Super League Challenge Cup was also called the Dukes.-Season Results:...
in the 1994 Lion Red Cup.
During the early seasons of the Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
, Leuluai was the coach of the Eastern Tornadoes
Eastern Tornadoes
The Eastern Tornadoes were a New Zealand rugby league franchise that competed in the New Zealand Rugby League's Bartercard Cup and Auckland Rugby League's Super 12 competitions. They were formed to represent the rugby league clubs of East Auckland.-History:...
. He later took on the role of the Junior Kiwis
Junior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
in 2002.
Between 2003 and 2005 Leuluai was one of Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson (rugby league)
Daniel Anderson is an Australian rugby league football coach. Anderson previously coached in Australia, New Zealand and England and is particularly noted for his work with the development of younger players.-Early years:...
s two assistant coaches with the New Zealand Kiwis.
After a career of coaching New Zealand representative sides, Leuluai applied for the head coaching job of the New Zealand Kiwis in 2005 and was heavily favoured to be appointed until he withdrew due to personal reasons. Brian McClennan
Brian McClennan
Brian "Bluey" McClennan is the head coach for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League . He was previously the head coach of the New Zealand national team and then England's Leeds Rhinos club...
was appointed coach instead.
In July 2007 Leuluai again applied to coach the New Zealand Kiwis
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
but ultimately Gary Kemble
Gary Kemble
Gary Edward Kemble is a New Zealand rugby league coach and former player. He has both played and coached the New Zealand Kiwis. He is the current head coach of the Papakura Sea Eagles in the Auckland Rugby League.-Playing career:...
was appointed coach. Leuluai served as assistant under Kemble.
In 2011 Leuluai will co-coach the Mangere East Hawks
Mangere East Hawks
The Mangere East Hawks are a rugby league based in Mangere, New Zealand. The Hawks compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition.-History:The club was founded in 1964, before this teams from the area had been attached to the Otahuhu club...
in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition.