Sebastian
Kris
Dynamic centre Sebastian Kris became a Kiwis bolter for the Rugby League World Cup at the end of 2022 courtesy of his stellar form in the Canberra Raiders backline.
Kris was born in Brisbane and pulled on the boots as a youngster for Wests Panthers, before moving to Canberra and coming through the juniors at Tuggeranong Valley Dragons.
A proud Torres Strait Islander from the islands of Mabuiag and Saibai, Kris also has South African and New Zealand heritage, and came off the bench to make his NRL debut for the Raiders soon after his 20th birthday in 2019. He made four appearances in the top flight and scored three tries before taking a mental health break from the game in 2020.
Kris returned to cement a centre spot at Canberra in 2021 - crossing for eight tries in 20 games - and went from strength to strength as the Raiders made a late finals surge in 2021, dotting down 14 times in 20 appearances.
The 23-year-old was subsequently chosen in New Zealand's World Cup squad and scored a first-half hat-trick in his first game in the black-and-white jersey, a 74-0 warm-up victory over Leeds Rhinos at Headingley. Kris made his Test debut on the wing against Jamaica - his only appearance during the tournament - and marked the occasion with a try.
In 2025, Kris earned a recall into the Kiwis Pacific Championships squad after a strong season for the minor premiership-winning Raiders. After being named to play in game 2 against Tonga at Eden Park, Kris unfortunately was ruled out of the match and remainder of the campaign after sustaining an injury during training.
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Sebastian
Kris
Dynamic centre Sebastian Kris became a Kiwis bolter for the Rugby League World Cup at the end of 2022 courtesy of his stellar form in the Canberra Raiders backline.
Kris was born in Brisbane and pulled on the boots as a youngster for Wests Panthers, before moving to Canberra and coming through the juniors at Tuggeranong Valley Dragons.
A proud Torres Strait Islander from the islands of Mabuiag and Saibai, Kris also has South African and New Zealand heritage, and came off the bench to make his NRL debut for the Raiders soon after his 20th birthday in 2019. He made four appearances in the top flight and scored three tries before taking a mental health break from the game in 2020.
Kris returned to cement a centre spot at Canberra in 2021 - crossing for eight tries in 20 games - and went from strength to strength as the Raiders made a late finals surge in 2021, dotting down 14 times in 20 appearances.
The 23-year-old was subsequently chosen in New Zealand's World Cup squad and scored a first-half hat-trick in his first game in the black-and-white jersey, a 74-0 warm-up victory over Leeds Rhinos at Headingley. Kris made his Test debut on the wing against Jamaica - his only appearance during the tournament - and marked the occasion with a try.
In 2025, Kris earned a recall into the Kiwis Pacific Championships squad after a strong season for the minor premiership-winning Raiders. After being named to play in game 2 against Tonga at Eden Park, Kris unfortunately was ruled out of the match and remainder of the campaign after sustaining an injury during training.
PROFILE
Height M
184
WEIGHT KG
100
DOB
Apr 19, 1999
HIGHLIGHTS
Test matches
1
Test points
4
CANBERRA RAIDERS (2019-PRESENT)
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Brisbane winger Karapani brought into Kiwi squad
Premiership-winning Brisbane Broncos winger Josiah Karapani has been brought into the New Zealand Kiwis’ squad as a replacement player ahead of their Pacific Championships final against Toa Sāmoa at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Sunday (6.05pm kick-off NZT).
The 23-year-old Aucklander comes in for Canberra Raiders outside back Sebastian Kris who has been ruled out of the campaign with a calf injury picked up in training last week.
After making nine appearances in his rookie season last year, Karapani came back into the Broncos’ lineup midway through the 2025 campaign finishing with 11 tries in 13 games, averaging 162 metres a match with 14 line breaks and 43 tackle breaks.
An Ōtāhuhu Leopards junior, he was signed by the One New Zealand Warriors as a teenager, making five appearances – and scoring five tries – in the club’s first season in the SG Ball Cup in 2020 (which was shelved after six rounds due to the Covid pandemic).
The Pakuranga College product, who represented the New Zealand 18s Clubs, was then signed by South Sydney but ultimately found his way to Queensland before breaking into the NRL with the Broncos – and winning an NRL premiership ring last month.
While Kris has been replaced in the Kiwis’ Pacific Championships squad, no player has been added for prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona who has also been ruled out of the final with a calf injury.
Kiwis Make Late Changes For Tonga Encounter
Injuries have forced late changes to the New Zealand Kiwis’ lineup for today’s Pacific Championships clash against Tonga at Eden Park (6.05pm kickoff).
Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Sebastian Kris have both been ruled out after picking up leg injuries in training this week.
Kris was named to make his second Test appearance replacing the injured Ronaldo Mulitalo on the left wing while Asofa-Solomona was listed in jersey #18 when the team was selected on Tuesday.
Their withdrawals leave the Kiwis with the bare game day complement of 19 players.
With Kris out, centre Casey McLean – who has scored six tries in first two Tests – has been shifted to the left wing where he made his Test debut against Papua New Guinea in Sydney last year.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is moved from fullback into the centres and Keano Kini will start at fullback. Scott Sorensen has been confirmed as 18th man with Zach Dockar-Clay 19th man.
PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025
NEW ZEALAND v TONGA
EDEN PARK
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2025
20 Keano Kini
2 Jamayne Isaako
3 Matthew Timoko
1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
4 Casey McLean
6 Dylan Brown
7 Kieran Foran
8 James Fisher-Harris (C)
9 Phoenix Crossland
10 Moses Leota
11 Briton Nikora
12 Isaiah Papali’i
13 Joseph Tapine
14 Te Maire Martin
15 Naufahu Whyte
16 Erin Clark
17 Xavier Willison
19 Scott Sorensen
21 Zach Dockar-Clay
Coach: Stacey Jones
Biography
Last updated:
December 2, 2025
Dynamic centre Sebastian Kris became a Kiwis bolter for the Rugby League World Cup at the end of 2022 courtesy of his stellar form in the Canberra Raiders backline.
Kris was born in Brisbane and pulled on the boots as a youngster for Wests Panthers, before moving to Canberra and coming through the juniors at Tuggeranong Valley Dragons.
A proud Torres Strait Islander from the islands of Mabuiag and Saibai, Kris also has South African and New Zealand heritage, and came off the bench to make his NRL debut for the Raiders soon after his 20th birthday in 2019. He made four appearances in the top flight and scored three tries before taking a mental health break from the game in 2020.
Kris returned to cement a centre spot at Canberra in 2021 - crossing for eight tries in 20 games - and went from strength to strength as the Raiders made a late finals surge in 2021, dotting down 14 times in 20 appearances.
The 23-year-old was subsequently chosen in New Zealand's World Cup squad and scored a first-half hat-trick in his first game in the black-and-white jersey, a 74-0 warm-up victory over Leeds Rhinos at Headingley. Kris made his Test debut on the wing against Jamaica - his only appearance during the tournament - and marked the occasion with a try.
In 2025, Kris earned a recall into the Kiwis Pacific Championships squad after a strong season for the minor premiership-winning Raiders. After being named to play in game 2 against Tonga at Eden Park, Kris unfortunately was ruled out of the match and remainder of the campaign after sustaining an injury during training.
fixtures & results
