Gain insights into the life and experiences of Richie Mo'unga, the rugby sensation

Gain insights into the life and experiences of Richie Mo'unga, the rugby sensation

Claudia Kogi
March 11, 2024 at 1:38 PM
In this article:
New Zealand logo
New Zealand
new Zealand
23

Aside from South Africa and some Asian countries, New Zealand is among the few countries that produce talented rugby players. Richie Mo'unga is a world-class All Blacks star known for his impressive skills and performances. He has dominated sports headlines and won the hearts of many fans.

Richie Mounga in action during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 semi-final match against Argentina
Richie Mounga in action during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 semi-final match against Argentina at Stade de France on 20 October 2023 in Paris, France. Photo: Henry Browne (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

Who is Richie Mo'unga? He is a New Zealand-based rugby union athlete playing for Japan Rugby League One club Toshiba Brave Lupus and the New Zealand national team. The talented player has enjoyed a successful career and made millions. Sports Brief explores his family background, career, and net worth.

Richie Mo'unga's profile summary

Full name

Richard Fou'a Mo'unga

Date of birth

25 May 1994

Age

29 years as of February 2024

Place of birth

Christchurch, New Zealand

Nationality

New Zealand

Ethnicity

White

Mother

Lila

Father

Saimone

Height

5 feet 10 inches or 179 centimetres

Weight

187 pounds or 85 kilograms

Marital status

Married

Spouse

Sophie Vieceli

Profession

Professional rugby player

Current team

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo

Position

Five-eighth and fullback

Net worth

$1 million - $5 million

Salary

$2 million

Social media

Instagram

Richie Mo'unga's biography

Richie Mo'unga (age 29 years as of February 2024) was born on 25 May 1994 in Christchurch, New Zealand. His parents are Lila and Saimone Mo'unga. Saimone hails from Tonga, while Lila is of Samoan descent. Richie has two elder brothers, Tonga and Simon, who also play rugby.

Top 5 facts about Richie Mo'unga
Richie Mo'unga during a New Zealand training session. Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images (Modified by author)
Source: Original

In an interview with Stuff, Mo'unga revealed how his brothers inspired him to play rugby.

They were huge influences in my rugby career, Tonga and Simon. They taught me a lot ... and, even now, I still idolise them and how they played the game.

The flyhalf attended Riccarton High School in Christchurch and later got admitted to St Andrew's College on a scholarship. He first showed keen interest in rugby when he played Ui5 in 2009.

Professional career

The professional player debuted in 2009 while still in school, playing for Limwood in the local Canterbury senior club rugby competition after graduation. Before joining New Zealand Under-20 for international games, various clubs had spotted his talent.

Richie Mo'unga helped the Under-20 side finish third in the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship in New Zealand, scoring 29 points in five games. He joined the northern tour and represented the All Blacks in the Mitre 10 Cup.

His fame, however, skyrocketed when he took part in the All-Black team squad that beat France 49-14. He was named among the 31 New Zealand squad members to participate in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Richie Mounga against Shizuoka Blue Revs
Richie Mounga during the NTT Japan Rugby League One match against Shizuoka Blue Revs at Ajinomoto Stadium on 9 December 2023 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Toru Hanai (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Richie Mo'unga played in the quarter-finals against Ireland, knocking the team out of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. They lost to England in the semi-final but edged out Wales 40-17 in the third-place battle.

Where did Richie Mo'unga go?

In 2023, the famous player ranked among the greatest first-fives in Crusaders history. He signed for Japan's Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo after playing over 100 games for the New Zealand club. Richie shared his feelings with the Crusaders after leaving the team.

The Crusaders have been my life forever. Even before I joined the team, it was my life, dreaming of being part of the family. Looking back at my time with the team since 2015, it makes me so grateful to be part of such a franchise, part of some really awesome memories and outstanding achievements.
It is a touchy thing when people are going overseas, but you cannot hide away from the fact that it is life-changing for me and my family. My job as a father and a husband is to provide for my family and put them first in decisions.

Richie Mo'unga's achievements and awards

The professional athlete established himself as one of the premier flyhalves in Super Rugby competition during the 2017 Super Rugby season and has since won several awards, including,

  • (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) Super Rugby Player of the Year awards at the NZ Rugby Awards
  • (2019/2020) Player of the Year Award
  • (2017) Mitre 10 Cup leading point scorer
  • (2020) Best first five-eighth in New Zealand

Is Richie Mo'unga injured?

Richie Mo'unga at the 2023 Rugby World Cup
Richie looks on during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Gold Final match against South Africa at Stade de France on 28 October 2023 in Paris, France. Photo: Paul Harding (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Before signing with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, Mo'unga suffered an injury on his groins and got ruled out of a clash in the Crusaders' opening win over the Waratahs. As of February 2024, he is fit and ready to play.

Richie Mo'unga's net worth and salary

The professional rugby player has yet to reveal his worth as of February 2024. Sources such as Surprise Sports estimate his net worth between $1 million and $5 million. Aside from club salaries, his net worth accumulates through brand endorsement deals from vast companies he has signed with.

Richie's salary ranges between $75k and $195k. This figure follows Richie Mo'unga's most recent three-year contract with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo. Although he has not officially stated the exact figure he would receive annually, various online sources allege it to be around $2 million.

Trivia

Richie Mo'unga's position is first five-eighth or full back. He is highly rated for his vision and attacking skills, which have seen him don the number 10 shirt for New Zealand for quite some time. Here are some interesting facts about the skilled player that you should learn about.

What is Richie Mo'unga's nationality?

The professional rugby athlete is a New Zealand national of a mixed ethnic background. His dad is a Tongan, and his mom is Samoan.

Who is Richie Mo'unga married to?

The professional rugby flyhalf is married to his long-term girlfriend, Sophie Vieceli. The two tied the knot at his hometown chapel in 2019. The couple has two kids. They welcomed their first child, Billie, in August 2020 and their daughter in August 2021.

Richie Mo'unga with his wife two kids
Richie Mo'unga poses with his wife and two kids. Photo: @richiemounga (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram

What is Richie Mo'unga's height and weight?

The renowned rugby player is 5 feet 10 inches or 179 centimetres tall and weighs 187 pounds or 85 kilograms. He has dark brown hair and eyes.

Is Richie Mo'unga on Instagram?

The professional New Zealand national is quite dynamic on Instagram, boasting over 233k followers as of February 2024.

Final word

A legendary and skilled player for the Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, Richie Mo'unga is a highly rated and well-decorated player. He is renowned for his vision and attacking skills, which have seen him don the number 10 shirt for the New Zealand national team.

READ ALSO: Get to know Jasper Wiese through his comprehensive biography and personal life revelations

Sports Brief published an article about Jasper Wiese, the dynamic South African rugby player. He has carved a name for himself in rugby with excellent skills and unwavering dedication.

Known for his imposing presence on the field, Wiese's journey in rugby is a testament to his passion and commitment to the sport. Click the above link to learn more about him.

Authors
Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.
Tags
Rugby World Cup