18 Facts About Solomone Kata

Solomone Kata was born on 3 December 1994 and is a professional dual-code rugby footballer who plays as a centre for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers and the Tonga national team.

Solomone Kata was born in Neiafu, Tonga, and moved to New Zealand in 2011 on a rugby union scholarship at Sacred Heart College, Auckland.

Solomone Kata switched to rugby league in 2013, signing with the New Zealand Warriors.

Solomone Kata played in the 2014 Auckland Nines with the first grade side, before returning to the under 20s competition.

Solomone Kata won the Jack Gibson Medal as the grand final player of the match.

Solomone Kata again played in the Warriors NRL Auckland Nines team in 2015 and was named in the team of the tournament.

Solomone Kata finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in all of the Warriors 24 matches and being the top tryscorer with 12 tries in the 2015 NRL season, while mid-year his contract was extended until the end of 2018.

In February, Solomone Kata played for the Warriors in the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines.

Solomone Kata finished the 2017 NRL season with him playing in 19 matches and scoring 5 tries for the Warriors.

Solomone Kata made 23 appearances for the Warriors in 2018, as the club returned to the finals for the first time since 2011, scoring 12 tries in total.

Solomone Kata was switched by the Warriors from left centre to right centre from the beginning of the season.

Solomone Kata returned to Rugby Union and begun playing for the Brumbies.

On 20 October 2014 Solomone Kata made his international debut, playing for Tonga in their end-of-year test-match against Papua New Guinea.

On 8 September 2015, Solomone Kata was named in the New Zealand Kiwis' training squad.

Solomone Kata made his New Zealand debut and played in the Four Nations for his adopted country.

Solomone Kata played in all 5 matches and scored 1 try in the tournament.

On 4 October 2017, Solomone Kata was selected in the 24-man squad for Tonga for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

Solomone Kata scored a try in the historic first-ever Test match between Tonga and the Australian Kangaroos on 20 October 2018, played in front of a sold-out crowd at Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland.