American-born player set to start French passport process, opening door to international team switch
Rugby NewsThursday, 26 March 2026 at 11:31
American-born lock Nafi Ma'afu is preparing to begin the process of obtaining a French passport, with the long-term possibility of representing France, but more immediately to secure his future in the country where he has built his career.
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Speaking to Midi Olympique, he made clear that his ambition is driven by a desire to fully embrace life in France:
"I want to stay here after my career. I'm actually going to start the process of obtaining a French passport. I grew up in the United States, but coming to France was a childhood dream.
"There are also many advantages compared to the United States, such as access to healthcare, safety, and especially culture."
Born in Arizona to a family of Tongan heritage, Ma'afu remains grounded in the sacrifices that shaped his journey.
"When I hear my name, I hear my grandmother's and my parents' names. I also play for them because they sacrificed everything by leaving Tonga so that my brothers and sisters and I could have a better life. They are my heroes. I am here thanks to them."
He only took up rugby at 15 in Tempe, but his athletic foundations were built much earlier.
"I was always outside playing sports," he said.
In the United States, he regularly played basketball, American football, and soccer with family during daily barbecues, experiences that helped shape his all-round game.
"I don't know if it was my father's plan, but playing basketball taught me how to pivot and still helps me a lot with my lineouts.
"Playing soccer got me used to running faster and more efficiently. Playing American football helped me with contact and footwork, because you have to be quick and coordinated."
His rugby journey quickly took him abroad, including a six-month spell in New Zealand with the Wellington FC Axemen, before he moved to France in 2017 to join USA Perpignan.
He later signed his first professional contract there in 2021 and earned selection for the United States under-20s that same year.
A move to Biarritz Olympique followed in 2022, although his progress was halted by a cruciate ligament rupture in February 2023. He returned to action in January 2024.
Now 27, a call-up to the French national setup may be unlikely, but his commitment to the country remains clear.
With a contract initially running until 2027, he instead joined US Montauban in 2025 after their promotion to the Top 14, a move that further underlined his intention to continue his life and career in France.
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