Apii Nicholls-Pualau
NZ international rugby league & union player
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Apii Nicholls (born 26 February 1993) is a New Zealand rugby league and union player. She captains the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Women's Premiership. Primarily a fullback, she is a New Zealand representative.[1][2]
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 26 February 1993 Rarotonga, Cook Islands, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 163 cm (5 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 62 kg (9 st 11 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby union | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: RLP As of 29 September 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In 2023, she was signed by Chiefs Manawa for the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
Background
Born in Rarotonga, Nicolls-Paualau represented the Cook Islands rugby sevens team before switching to rugby league.[3]
Playing career
Otahuhu Leopards
In 2017, Nicholls-Paulau began playing for the Otahuhu Leopards in the Auckland Rugby League.[4] Later that year, she was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup.[5] She captained the team in a 50–4 win over Canada.[6] On 2 December 2017, she started at fullback in New Zealand's final loss to Australia.
On 11 February 2018, she was named the NZRL Women's Player of the Year.[7] On 1 August 2018, she joined the New Zealand Warriors NRL Women's Premiership team.[8] In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Warriors, kicking a goal in a 10–4 win over the Sydney Roosters.[9]
International
In October 2019, Nicholls-Pualau was a member of New Zealand's 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s-winning squad.[10]
In October 2022, she was selected for the New Zealand squad at the delayed 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup in England.[11]
Chiefs Manawa (RU)
Nicholls-Pualau was signed by Chiefs Manawa for the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season.[12][13] She rejoined the side for the 2024 season.[14][15]
Canberra Raiders
On 27 Apr 2023 it was reported that she had returned to play rugby league with Canberra Raiders Women in their inaugural season.[16]