Leicester Faingaʻanuku
A powerhouse Tongan-born wing who brings devastating physicality and try-scoring flair to the Crusaders and the All Blacks.
Born 1999 (age 27)·NZ rugby union player·Birthday: October 11·Generation Z
Biography
Leicester Faingaʻanuku is a force of nature on the rugby field. Born in Tonga and raised in New Zealand, his athletic journey was almost diverted by a promising basketball career before rugby won out. His professional path solidified in the Crusaders' system, where his combination of raw power, surprising agility, and a nose for the try line made him a fan favourite. A stint in France with Toulon added a layer of experience, but it was back in Super Rugby where he truly flourished, becoming one of the competition's most feared finishers. His selection for the All Blacks in 2022 was the culmination of his explosive form, offering the national team a uniquely physical and dynamic option on the wing, capable of breaking games open with a single carry.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Leicester was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Leicester Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Leicester's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Represented New Zealand internationally, earning his first All Blacks cap in 2022.
- Was a key part of multiple Super Rugby Pacific championship-winning Crusaders sides.
- Scored a hat-trick for the Crusaders in a Super Rugby Pacific match against the Fijian Drua in 2023.
Did You Know?
He is a cousin of former All Black and current Tongan international Malakai Fekitoa.
He was a talented basketball player in his youth and represented New Zealand at age-group level in the sport.
His full name, Leicester Ofa Ki Wales Twickenham Faingaʻanuku, includes nods to famous rugby venues and teams.
“I carry my family's name and my islands on my back.”
