Jordan Petaia (born 14 March 2000) is an Australian professional rugby union player who plays as an outside back for Japan Rugby League One club Urayasu D-Rocks. He began his professional career the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby and made his Test debut for in 2019. In 2025, Petaia made the switch to American football, playing tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League, before returning to rugby union.
Early life Petaia was born in the Melbourne suburb of Werribee, and is of Samoan and Australian heritage. He was born in Victoria in 2000, and raised in Brisbane, Queensland.
During his time at Brisbane State High School Petaia spent time playing on the wing for the 2016 1st XV Premiership team and in his final year played fullback. In his final year at the school he was selected in the Australian Schools Rugby Union side that played Fiji and New Zealand. Petaia has cited former Queensland Reds player Will Genia in the 2011 Super Rugby Final as a turning point in his journey in becoming a professional rugby player.
Career Petaia made his Super Rugby debut on 7 April 2018, round 8, against the Brumbies at GIO Stadium, Canberra. The Queensland Reds lost 45–21. Petaia scored his first ever try in the Super Rugby and for the Queensland Reds in round 14 against the Hurricanes, losing narrowly, 38–34 in Wellington. Petaia's second try came against rivals the New South Wales Waratahs in round 16. The Queensland Reds lost at home – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – 41–52.
2024, his final season with the Reds before transitioning to American football, was plagued by injury.
Petaia returned to rugby in 2025, signing for Top 14 club USA Perpignan in France. He made 13 appearances for Perpignan throughout the 2025–26 season, scoring one try.
In July 2026, Petaia was announced as the latest international player signing for the Urayasu D-Rocks in the Japan Rugby League One, joining Australian teammate Samu Kerevi ahead of the 2026–27 season.
International career Being born in Australia to a Samoan parent, Petaia is eligible to represent Australia or Samoa at international level.
Australia Petaia was called up to the Australia squad by coach Michael Cheika in early August 2018, before the first Bledisloe Test in Sydney. However, he did not make the final team to play against New Zealand.
Petaia's international debut was during a pool match against Uruguay in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, scoring a try on his second touch. He set up another try before being rested at half time.
Petaia was named in Australia's 34-man squad ahead of their September 2026 Test match against South Africa at Perth Stadium. It was the first time in over three years he had been in the Wallabies setup.
International tries
TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore1Ōita, JapanOita Stadium2019 Rugby World Cup5 October 2019Win45 – 102Ōita, JapanOita Stadium2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals23 October 2021Win23 – 323Perth, AustraliaOptus Stadium2022 England rugby union tour of Australia2 July 2022Win30 – 284Mendoza, ArgentinaEstadio Malvinas Argentinas2022 Rugby Championship6 August 2022Win26 – 415Auckland, New ZealandEden Park2022 Rugby Championship24 September 2022Loss40 – 146Dublin, IrelandAviva Stadium2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals19 November 2022Loss13 – 107Paris, FranceStade de France2023 Rugby World Cup9 September 2023Win35 – 15
American football career In December 2024, Petaia left the Queensland Reds to pursue an American football career. On 9 December 2024, he was selected for the National Football League's International Player Pathway (IPP) program at the position of tight end.
Petaia signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on 2 April 2025. He was waived/injured on 7 August.
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