Eddie Paea

Edmond "Eddie" Paea (born 8 February 1988) is a dual-code rugby international rugby footballer for Tonga. Beginning his professional career playing rugby league with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League, Paea made his debut for the Tongan rugby league team at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, before changing to rugby union and representing the Tongan rugby union team. Eddie currently plays for his junior team, the Mascot Juniors RLFC in the A Grade South Sydney Junior Rugby League competition which Eddie returned to in 2019.

Background
Paea was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Rugby league career
Paea made his NRL debut for the Rabbitohs in round 26 of the 2006 season against the Wests Tigers. A Junior Kiwi representative, Paea was named in Tonga's squad for the 2008 World Cup. Paea scored his first senior international try in the World Cup match against Scotland on 8 November 2008. He also converted one try. Paea spent the majority of his time whilst contracted with South Sydney playing for their feeder team, the North Sydney Bears, in the NSW Cup. Paea made a total of 42 appearances for Norths, scoring 15 tries, kicking 79 goals and scoring a total of 218 points.

Rugby union career
Paea played Rugby Union in Krasnoyarsk Russia for Krasny Yar as a first-5. They are currently the holders of the Russian Cup and were the 2015 Russian Champions.