James Gavet
A powerful prop whose journey from New Zealand to the Super League embodied the grit and global reach of modern rugby league.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Samoa international rugby league footballer·Birthday: October 19·Millennials
Biography
James Gavet's path in rugby league was a testament to resilience. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, his early career was a tour of Australasian clubs, marked by raw power and a series of injuries that tested his resolve. His breakthrough came with a move to the NRL's Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2014, where his aggressive, no-nonsense style in the front row began to turn heads. Gavet's career became a trans-Tasman story, featuring stints with the Wests Tigers and the Brisbane Broncos before he crossed hemispheres to join the Huddersfield Giants in the English Super League. His physicality and work ethic earned him the honour of representing Samoa on the international stage. While his career was punctuated by physical setbacks, his presence on the field was always impactful, a durable force in the trenches that coaches valued and opponents respected.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
James was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When James Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
James's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played in the National Rugby League (NRL) for multiple clubs including the Wests Tigers and Brisbane Broncos.
- Represented the Samoa national rugby league team in international competition.
- Played as a starting prop in the English Super League for the Huddersfield Giants.
Did You Know?
He is of Samoan and Scottish descent.
Before his NRL debut, he played for the New Zealand Warriors' NYC (Under-20s) team.
He had a brief stint playing rugby union in Japan for the Honda Heat.
“I've had to fight back from more injuries than I can count.”
