Ligi Sao


Liligiifo Sao is a Samoa national [rugby league team|Samoa] international rugby league footballer who plays as a and for Hull F.C. in the Super League.
Sao previously played for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL.

Background

Sao was born in Auckland, New Zealand and is of Samoan descent.
He played his junior football for the Manurewa Marlins in the Auckland Rugby League competition.

Playing career

Club career

Early career

He was then signed by the New Zealand Warriors, playing in the 2012 [NRL Under-20s season|2012 Toyota Cup] for the Junior Warriors.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

In 2013, Sao signed with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Sao played in both the NRL Under-20s season|2013 Holden Cup] and the 2013 NSW Cup before making his first grade debut on 15 July 2013 against the North Queensland Cowboys.

New Zealand Warriors

On 22 July 2015, three days before they were due to play Manly in Auckland, the Warriors announced that they had signed Sao for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Hull F.C.

He joined Super League side Hull F.C. for the 2020 season. Sao played 16 games for Hull F.C. in the 2020 [Super League season] including the club's semi-final defeat against Wigan.
Sao played 21 games for Hull F.C. in the 2021 Super League season which saw the club finish 8th on the table and miss the playoffs. In round 20 of the 2022 Super League season, Sao was sent off for a dangerous high tackle in Hull FC's 46-18 loss against Castleford.
Sao played 17 games for Hull F.C. for in the Super League XXVIII season as the club finished 10th on the table.
In round 1 of the 2024 Super League season, Sao was sent to the sin bin during the clubs 22-0 loss to arch-rivals Hull Kingston Rovers.
Sao was limited to just two games for Hull F.C. in the 2025 Super League season as the club finished 7th on the table.

International career

In October 2022, Sao was named in the 2021 Men's [Rugby League World Cup squads#Samoa|Samoa squad] for the 2021 Rugby [League World Cup – Men's tournament|2021 Rugby League World Cup].

Statistics

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