Watch Sale Shark’s Reikiti Ma’asi-White share his story with OPRO, from full-contact games in the garden to dreams of playing for England.
Rugby was never just a weekend sport for Reikiti Ma’asi-White - it was a way of life. Born into a rugby family, with a father who played for clubs like Cornish Pirates, Leeds Carnegie, and London Welsh, and two brothers who were equally immersed in the game, competition was constant and often fierce. Whether it was on the pitch or in the house, everything turned into a contest. Wins were celebrated, losses taken to heart, and the stakes always felt high, even at home.
Though they were different ages and didn’t always play on the same team growing up, Reikiti and his brothers were shaped by the same mantra handed down from their father: “Run hard, tackle hard.” That simple message became a foundation for how Reikiti approached every game. It wasn’t about overthinking, it was about commitment.
That commitment paid off. Thanks to his father’s connections within the rugby world and the Tongan community, Reikiti earned a scholarship to Harrow School, where he was able to combine academic excellence with elite rugby development. From there, his path led him through age-grade systems and into the Sale Sharks squad, where he now plays centre.
Rugby has always demanded physicality and Reikiti knows how important it is to stay protected. Having grown up playing full-contact rugby with his brothers from a young age, the value of a mouthguard was never lost on him. Whether it’s tackling, carrying, or contesting the breakdown, he sees protection as a non-negotiable part of the game.
With dreams of playing for England and even the British & Irish Lions, Reikiti’s sights are set high, but for now, his focus is on cementing his place at Sale. And if his story so far is anything to go by, the drive, discipline, and heritage behind him make that next step feel not just possible but inevitable.
