Born: May 28, 1964 – Auckland
Test record: 3 Tests (1989-90) – 0 points
Tours: 1989 tour of Britain and France

Otahuhu forward Francis Leota played three Tests for the Kiwis in 1989-90, while he had off-season stints with Sheffield and Salford during decade as a mainstay on the New Zealand domestic scene.

Leota came through the ranks with Otahuhu Leopards and his trajectory skyrocketed after shifting from the wing to second-row in 1987. He debuted for Auckland the following season and was a tryscorer in the province’s wins over Great Britain (1988) and Australia (1989), while he was also chosen to represent a New Zealand XIII against the Kangaroos.

The 25-year-old grabbed a spot for the Kiwis’ 1989 tour of Britain and France, debuting in a win over Castleford. Leota’s 11 appearances on tour – in which he scored four tries – included runs off the bench in the narrow third-Test loss to Great Britain at Wigan and the series-opening win over France at Carcassonne.

Leota’s only other match for the Kiwis was again as a reserve in the second-Test win over Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby in 1990. But he represented New Zealand Presidents XIII against Great Britain that year, and celebrated in another win over the Lions for Auckland in 1990 and a loss in 1992.

Turning out for Sheffield in the 1989-90 season, and Sheffield and Salford during the following English winter, Leota played for Waikato Cougars in the inaugural Lion Red Cup in 1994 and was part of Counties Manukau Heroes’ triumph in the 1996 campaign.