John Afoa

Ioane Fitu "John" Afoa (born 16 September 1983) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player. His position of choice is at prop. Afoa currently plays for the Crusaders in Super Rugby.

Afoa was a student at Auckland's Papakura High School, then St. Kentigern College, where he played first XV rugby alongside fellow All Blacks Joe Rokocoko and Jerome Kaino.

Afoa played for Auckland between 2002 and 2011.

Afoa played for the Blues and made his debut in 2004 against the Brumbies. He made 101 appearances with the team between 2004 and 2011.

Afoa played for Ulster in the Pro12 from 2011 until 2014.

On 6 December 2013, Afoa officially joined Gloucester Rugby in the English Aviva Premiership on a four year contract worth £400,000 per season. This made him one of the highest paid players in the Premiership and the third highest paid player in European rugby.

On 20 January 2018, it was confirmed that Afoa would leave Gloucester to join local rivals Bristol ahead of the 2018 19 season.

On 2 May 2022, it was confirmed that Afoa would leave Bristol after four seasons to travel to France to join Pro D2 side Vannes from the 2022 23 season.

On the 27 May 2023, Afoa answered a call from Crusaders coach Scott Robertson due to the Crusaders mounting injury crisis for front row forwards. Afoa flew from back from France, where he had been playing, and debuted as the tight head prop for the Crusaders match against the Waratahs. Afoa became the oldest ever super rugby player at the age of 39 years and 233 days.

Afoa has moved through a number of international representative sides. In 1999, Afoa made the New Zealand U16 team, the youngest national representative team. Through 2000 and 2001, Afoa had played in the more senior New Zealand Schools' side. Moving steadily through the age grades, he was a member of the New Zealand under 19 teams of 2002 and 2003. In both 2003 and 2004, Afoa was part of the New Zealand Under 21 Rugby World Championship team.