Samoan international James Lay to retire at end of NPC season

Moane Pasifika and North Harbour prop James Lay has announced he will retire from all rugby at the end of the NPC season.

The 31-year-old won 16 caps for his country, the last in the one-point defeat to England at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Lay made his Test debut against Fiji in 2017 and appeared in two World Cups, having also been present at the tournament in Japan in 2019.

Unfortunately, he’s been beset by injuries in the last two seasons and made just six Super Rugby appearances.

Moane Pasifika head coach Tana Umaga paid tribute to the player, who also had spells at the Blues and overseas with English club Bristol, and captained Moane Pasifika in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Umaga said: “Jimmy is an exceptional leader whose work ethic on and off the field helped shape our club, our team and our players for the better. Personally, I’ll miss our honest conversations on what’s the best way forward for our team; he was a huge help to us in that regard.

“We’re thankful for his long-lasting contributions to the Moana Pasifika movement and wish him well in this next chapter of his life. We have no doubt that he’ll make an impact wherever he goes.”