Patrick Pellegrini: from English fifth-tier rugby to a World Cup try and a Test hat-trick for Tonga

In 2020 Patrick Pellegrini was playing for Sevenoaks, a club in the fifth tier of English rugby just south of London. Three years later he came off the bench for Tonga against the world champions, South Africa, at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Marseille and scored a solo try two minutes after he got on. Since then the Sydney-born first five has played two seasons of Super Rugby for Moana Pasifika, scored a hat-trick for Tonga in the Test that confirmed them as Pacific 1 qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup, and taken his Test tally to 21. In 2027 he will play for the Highlanders.

Where he comes from

Pellegrini was born in Sydney on 28 September 1998, according to Wikipedia, and was raised there. His mother is Tongan and his father Australian, with English and Italian roots, the Italian site OnRugby reported in 2023. He played both codes as a boy and settled on rugby union at 14, Wikipedia records.

He came through New South Wales rugby, playing for the state's schoolboys side and its Under 20s, Moana Pasifika said when they signed him in 2024. In Sydney club rugby he played for West Harbour in the Shute Shield and for Randwick, according to Wikipedia.

Sevenoaks

The Covid-19 pandemic and Australia's closed borders pushed him to look for rugby elsewhere, OnRugby reported, and in 2020 he joined Sevenoaks in Kent, in English rugby's fifth division. From there he was recommended to Coventry in the second-tier Championship, OnRugby said, and after a trial he signed with them in the summer of 2022, Wikipedia records.

Coventry

Pellegrini's first season at Coventry, 2022-23, brought nine tries and 153 points in 18 games, the Coventry Observer reported, and he was fourth on the Championship's points list, Wikipedia records. In March 2023 the club extended his contract, OnRugby said.

He opened the 2023-24 season with a try and four conversions in a 24-14 Premiership Rugby Cup win over Saracens in Coventry on 9 September 2023; the BBC noted that his late try also sealed a bonus point. That season he finished as the Championship's top points scorer, won the Coventry Rugby Supporters' Club Player of the Year award and was named in the Championship team of the season, Moana Pasifika said when they signed him.

His Coventry head coach, Alex Rae, said Pellegrini's rise showed "you can come from a different background and have an unusual route" and still reach the top of the game.

Tonga and the World Cup

In the autumn of 2022 Pellegrini let Tonga know he was available, OnRugby reported. He made his Test debut off the bench against Fiji in Lautoka on 22 July 2023, in a 36-20 loss in the Pacific Nations Cup, and started for the first time against Canada at Teufaiva Sport Stadium in Nuku'alofa on 10 August 2023, a 28-3 win. He came off the bench in a second Canada Test, a 36-12 win in Nuku'alofa on 15 August 2023.

He was not in Tonga's original World Cup squad, but head coach Toutai Kefu told him to be ready. When Otumaka Mausia was injured, Pellegrini was called up and flew to Paris. "I was stoked to get the call," he told the Coventry Observer in September 2023.

His World Cup debut came off the bench in a 45-17 loss to Scotland in Nice on 24 September 2023. A week later, on 1 October 2023 against South Africa at Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, he came on in the 71st minute and two minutes later ran from inside Tonga's half, chipped ahead, collected his own kick and stepped inside to score. The Coventry Observer called it "a sensational solo try". South Africa won 49-18. He played again off the bench in Tonga's 45-24 win over Romania near Lille on 8 October 2023.

Moana Pasifika

In August 2024 Moana Pasifika signed Pellegrini for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. "Playing Super Rugby has always been a goal of mine since I was a kid," he said. Head coach Tana Umaga said: "Patrick has had an inspiring rugby journey so far rising through the ranks."

His first Super Rugby points came in a 31-29 loss to the Highlanders in Albany on 28 February 2025. On 8 March 2025 he kicked five conversions in a 40-31 win over the Hurricanes in Albany, and on 29 March 2025 he had his highest-scoring Super Rugby match: a try, six conversions from six attempts and a penalty, 20 points in all, as Moana Pasifika beat the Crusaders 45-29 in Christchurch. A week later he scored a try and kicked five conversions in the 45-28 comeback win over the Waratahs in Albany on 5 April 2025, the game in which prop Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou scored a hat-trick. On 17 May 2025 his four penalties helped Moana beat the Blues 27-21 in Albany.

He finished 2025 with 12 games, two tries and 81 points, RugbyPass records, and in 2026 he added 11 games, three tries and 56 points. Moana's last match of the 2026 season was a 21-19 win over the Brumbies in Canberra on 30 May 2026, and Pellegrini scored 16 of their points: two tries and three conversions. In June 2026 Moana Pasifika were ruled out of the 2027 competition.

Tonga, 2024 to 2026

From 2024 Pellegrini started 14 of the 15 Tests he played for Tonga. In the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup he started all three matches, scored a try against Fiji in Nuku'alofa on 6 September 2024 and kicked 10 points in a 30-17 win over Canada in Tokyo on 14 September 2024. He started against Romania in Bucharest on 9 November 2024 and the United States in Chambéry on 16 November 2024, and came off the bench against Georgia in Tbilisi on 24 November 2024.

The 2025 Pacific Nations Cup doubled as World Cup qualifying. He kicked 15 points in a 30-16 win over Samoa in Nuku'alofa on 23 August 2025, and Tonga were confirmed as 2027 World Cup qualifiers on 6 September 2025, according to Wikipedia. In the bronze final against Canada at America First Field in Salt Lake City on 20 September 2025, he scored three tries and kicked five conversions from five in a 35-24 win, 25 points, as Tonga took the Pacific 1 qualifying spot. He finished the tournament second on the points list with 49. He also started against Scotland at Murrayfield on 23 November 2025.

In the 2026 World Rugby Nations Cup he started all three of Tonga's July matches, including a 36-26 win over Zimbabwe in Commerce City, Colorado, on 4 July 2026, and on 6 November 2026 he kicked 13 points as Tonga beat Romania 43-38 in Bucharest.

Provincial rugby in New Zealand

Pellegrini played one NPC game for North Harbour, kicking 10 points in a 38-25 loss to Manawatū in Palmerston North on 1 August 2025. In 2026 he played 10 games for Otago, RugbyPass records. Against Tasman in Dunedin on 11 September 2026 he scored a try and kicked seven conversions and a penalty, 22 points in a 57-33 win, and he kicked five conversions in a 50-21 win over Counties Manukau in Pukekohe on 17 September 2026. Otago reached the semi-finals, where they lost 38-19 to Northland in Whangārei on 16 October 2026.

Style and standing

Moana Pasifika's signing announcement described a fly-half with a sharp side-step and real speed who reads defences well. Umaga said he brought "tremendous attacking skills" and the ability to play what was in front of him. The Highlanders, announcing their 2027 squad, called him "the experienced Patrick Pellegrini".

Looking to 2027

Pellegrini has played 21 Tests for Tonga, with five Test tries and 121 points. On 28 October 2026 the Highlanders named him as one of four first fives in their 2027 squad, alongside Josh Jacomb, Mika Muliaina and Reesjan Pasitoa. Before then, Tonga's tour continues against Georgia in Tbilisi on 14 November 2026.

Career at a glance

Tonga figures are RUGBE's count from Wikipedia's match records with team lists, to 6 November 2026. RugbyPass lists 19 Tests and 108 points because it does not yet include the Tests against Scotland on 23 November 2025 and Romania on 6 November 2026. Moana Pasifika, North Harbour and Otago figures are RugbyPass's records and match the scoring in Wikipedia's match records.