David Ainu’u

Started playing rugby at 13 after his mom forced him to be a water boy for his older brother’s rugby games. It took him a year, but he finally decided to play and fell in love with the sport. Ainu’u also played American football in high school.

Cousin to notable Eagles player Joe Taufete’e, Ainu’u has come through the USA Rugby age-grade program, playing with the High School All-American XVs in 2015 and 2016 as well as the U20s in 2017 and 2018. While still in high school, the young prop was invited to train with the senior national team, earning a professional contract in 2017 with Toulouse in France.

Ainu’u was officially capped with the USA Men’s National Team XVs in November of 2018 during the Eagles first ever victory over Samoa. From there, he’s become a regular face on the squad’s depth chart.