Jordan Petaia
Jordan Petaia is an Australian professional rugby union player for Top 14 club USA Perpignan. He previously played rugby union for the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby and for in international matches. He also spent time as an American football tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League in 2025. A utility back, Petaia is most often used in the centres for both club and country.
Early life
Petaia is of Samoan and Australian heritage. He was born in Victoria in 2000, and raised in Brisbane, Queensland.During his time at Brisbane State High School Petaia spent time playing on the wing for the 2016 1st XV Premiership team and in his final year played fullback. In his final year at the school he was selected in the Australian Schools Rugby Union side that played Fiji and New Zealand. Petaia has cited former Queensland Reds player Will Genia in the 2011 Super Rugby Final as a turning point in his journey in becoming a professional rugby player.
Rugby union career
Petaia made his Super Rugby debut on 7 April 2018, round 8, against the Brumbies at GIO Stadium, Canberra. The Queensland Reds lost 45–21. Petaia scored his first ever try in the Super Rugby and for the Queensland Reds in round 14 against the Hurricanes, losing narrowly, 38–34 in Wellington. Petaia's second try came against rivals the New South Wales Waratahs in round 16. The Queensland Reds lost at home – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – 41–52.2024, his final season with the Reds before transitioning to American football, was plagued by injury.
Petaia returned to rugby in 2025, signing for Top 14 club USA Perpignan in France.
International career
Australia
Petaia was called up to the Australia squad by coach Michael Cheika in early August 2018, before Bledisloe Test One in Sydney, New South Wales. However, he did not make the final team to play against New Zealand.Petaia's international debut was during a pool match against Uruguay in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, scoring a try on his second touch. He set up another try before being rested at half time.
International tries
| Try | Opposing team | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result | Score |
| 1 | Ōita, Japan | Oita Stadium | 2019 Rugby World Cup | 5 October 2019 | Win | 45 – 10 | |
| 2 | Ōita, Japan | Oita Stadium | 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals | 23 October 2021 | Win | 23 – 32 | |
| 3 | Perth, Australia | Optus Stadium | 2022 England rugby union tour of Australia | 2 July 2022 | Win | 30 – 28 | |
| 4 | Mendoza, Argentina | Estadio Malvinas Argentinas | 2022 Rugby Championship | 6 August 2022 | Win | 26 – 41 | |
| 5 | Auckland, New Zealand | Eden Park | 2022 Rugby Championship | 24 September 2022 | Loss | 40 – 14 | |
| 6 | Dublin, Ireland | Aviva Stadium | 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals | 19 November 2022 | Loss | 13 – 10 | |
| 7 | Paris, France | Stade de France | 2023 Rugby World Cup | 9 September 2023 | Win | 35 – 15 |
American football career
In December 2024, Petaia left the Queensland Reds to pursue an American football career. On 9 December 2024, he was selected for the National Football League's International Player Pathway program at the position of tight end.Petaia signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on 2 April 2025. He was waived/injured on 7 August.