Iosefo Masi
Fijian rugby league & union player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iosefo Masikau Baleiwairiki also known as either Iosefo Masikau or Iosefo Masi (born 9 May 1998) is a Fijian professional rugby union footballer who currently plays for Lyon in the French Top 14. Known for repeatedly slicing his way through the opposition defensive line has earned him the nickname, the "Slice Man". He signed for Top 14 side Lyon in 2025.
Masi in 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Iosefo Masikau Baleiwairiki | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 9 May 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 88 kg (194 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Filipe Sauturaga (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby league career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Centre, Fullback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
He is a former rugby sevens player, winning a gold medal for Fiji at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[1] He won a gold medal at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.[2][3][4][5]
Career
Rugby Sevens
Masi was selected to the national team after his impressive performances at the 2020 Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament where he also scored a hat-trick in one of the matches.[6]
Masi made his debut appearance at the Olympic Games in 2020 representing Fiji in the men's rugby sevens tournament.[7][8] He was part of the Fijian side that won a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[9][10][11]
Rugby League
On 20 September 2021, Masi signed with the Townsville-based North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL) on a train and replacement contract. He trained with the Cowboys' NRL squad and played with the Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup in 2022.[12]
Rugby Union
In 2022, Masi returned to rugby union, joining the Fijian Drua.[13]
