Joseph Soosemea Taufetee (born October 4, 1992) is an American rugby union player who plays as a hooker and prop for the California Legion in Major League Rugby (MLR) and the United States national team. A converted American football player, Taufetee is the only American and only player from a Tier II nation, that has been nominated for the World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year, being nominated in 2019 while playing for the Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership.
Early life Joe Taufetee was born on October 4, 1992 in Nuʻuuli, American Samoa and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area after moving with his family to California at the age of five. Of Samoan descent, Taufetee played American football as a youth and aspired to playing in the NFL. Taufetee attended Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, California and played at defensive tackle for school's football team during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Taufetee earned multiple All-Conference honors during his time with the team, but an ACL injury ended his aspirations of furthering his career in football.
Rugby career Club Taufete'e began playing rugby with the Belmont Shore U-19 team while studying and playing American football at Santa Ana Community College."Interview with Uncapped Eagle Joseph Taufete’e", Rugby Wrap Up, August 27, 2015. He then went to New Zealand to develop his rugby skills.
In early 2016, Taufete'e was signed to a professional contract by the San Diego Breakers. In December 2016, Taufete'e signed a contract to the Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership.
On February 26, 2020, Taufete signed for French side Lyon in the Top 14 ahead of the 2020–21 season. In March 2022, following the birth of his child in California, Taufete’e was granted release from Lyon and was subsequently signed by the LA Giltinis.
In August 2022 Taufete'e signed for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby. Head coach Steve Borthwick described Taufete'e as "a powerful player, in attack and defence". He made his debut on September 18, 2022 as a replacement in a 36-21 win over Newcastle Falcons at Welford Road. He featured 5 times before leaving Tigers in April 2023 to join Houston SaberCats.
In early 2026, Taufeteʻe signed for his fifth MLR team, joining the new franchise California Legion ahead of the 2026 Major League Rugby season.
International The uncapped Taufete'e was a surprise inclusion in the U.S. squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Taufete'e debuted for the United States at the 2015 Rugby World Cup against South Africa. He also played for the U.S. at the 2016, 2017, and 2019 Americas Rugby Championships. The USA star has made 22 appearances for the Eagles, scoring 20 tries. This surpasses former Ireland great Keith Wood, a hooker, for the most international tries by any player in the tight five (i.e., either a hooker, prop, or lock).
International tries Try Opposing team Venue Competition Date Result Score 1 Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale 2016 Americas Rugby Championship Won 64–0 2 Athletic Club, São Paulo 2016 Americas Rugby Championship Lost 23–24 3 Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastián Test match Lost 17–20 4 Torero Stadium, San Diego 2019 Rugby World Cup Qualifier Won 52–16 5 6 Brita-Arena; Wiesbaden Test match Won 46–17 7 Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi Test match Lost 20–21 8 9 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City Test match Won 62–13 10 11 BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston Test match Won 30–29 12 13 Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastián Test match Won 30–29 14 Aviva Stadium, Dublin Test match Lost 14–57 15 Estadio Santiago Bueras; Maipu 2019 Americas Rugby Championship Won 71–8 16 Starfire Sports, Tukwila 2019 Americas Rugby Championship Lost 25–32 17 18 19 Starfire Sports, Tukwila 2019 Americas Rugby Championship Won 30–25 20 21 Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado 2023 Rugby World Cup Qualifier Won 38–16 22 Estadio Santa Laura-Universidad SEK, Santiago 2023 Rugby World Cup Qualifier Won 22–21 23 Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado 2023 Rugby World Cup Qualifier Lost 29–31
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