Laurent Simutoga (born ) is a New Caledonian rugby union prop from Wallis and Futuna, in the South Pacific. He played for

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

and

La Rochelle La Rochelle (, , ; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''La Rochéle'') is a city on the west coast of France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime Departments of France, department. Wi ...

in the French

Top 14 The Top 14 () is a professional rugby union club competition that is played in France. Created in 1892, the Top 14 is at the top of the national league system operated by the National Rugby League (France), France National Rugby League, also ...

before an injury forced his early retirement from professional sport. He was educated at

Lindisfarne College Lindisfarne College was a private school or independent school. It was founded in 1891 in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex, England. In 1940 Lindisfarne College moved from Westcliff to nearby Creeksea Place, but during the Second World War the building ...

in New Zealand in 2005–06, during which time he played for Hawke's Bay Academy. Before moving to France, Simutoga also represented Hawke's Bay in the Under 18 and Under 20 age groups. In 2007 he represented France in the Under 21 age group.

Personal life

Born December 8, 1987, in Noumea,

New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, southwest of Vanuatu and east of Australia. Located from Metropolitan France, it forms a Overseas France#Sui generis collectivity, ''sui generis'' collectivity of t ...

, Simutoga is the maternal grandson of Pelenato Fuluhea, who served as King of Wallis and Futuna between 1947 and 1950. He completed his secondary education at

in New Zealand after being awarded a sporting scholarship. Following his retirement from professional rugby in France, Simutoga returned to take up residence in New Zealand.

References

External links

ESPN Scrum ProfileTry Line Profile
(French)
Rugbyrama Profile
(French) {{DEFAULTSORT:Simutoga, Laurent 1987 births Living people French rugby union players Rugby union props Rugby union players from Wallis and Futuna Stade Rochelais players People educated at Lindisfarne College, New Zealand 21st-century French sportsmen