Welcome to Seawolves Legends, a series dedicated to honoring the individuals who have left an indelible mark on the Seattle Seawolves. From standout players to behind-the-scenes heroes, these stories highlight the passion, dedication, and heart that make the Seawolves family extraordinary.
For Shalom Suniula, rugby has always been more than a game. The sport has been his compass, guiding him from the streets of New Zealand to the world’s biggest stages. As a USA Eagles veteran, Major League Rugby champion, and community leader, Shalom has shaped the sport and inspired those around him with his passion and leadership.
In honor of his impact on and off the field, we sat down with Shalom to hear his story firsthand as we celebrate him as one of the Seattle Seawolves’ first Legends. From growing the game at the grassroots level to mentoring the next generation, Shalom’s influence goes far beyond his time in a Seawolves jersey. His legacy is one of resilience, dedication, and a deep love for rugby.
Born in American Samoa and raised in New Zealand, Shalom was surrounded by rugby from the start. “It’s a religion over there,” he said. “I picked up a ball at five or six. It’s all over TV, your friends play it, and when you’re a kid, you usually play what your friends play. And for us, that was rugby.”
Shalom’s talent and work ethic propelled him to the highest levels of rugby. He debuted for the USA Eagles Sevens in 2008, kicking off a career that spanned over a decade in both sevens and 15s. He competed on some of rugby’s biggest stages, including the Rugby World Cup Sevens (2009), the Pan American Games (2011), and the 2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers.
His career reached even higher heights in 2016 when he became part of the first U.S. rugby sevens squad to compete in the Olympics, a historic moment for American rugby.
By 2017, a new opportunity came calling. This would bring Shalom back to a city he’d grown to love: our own Seattle, Washington.
When Major League Rugby launched in 2018, Shalom was already rooted in Seattle’s rugby scene. “The rugby community was strong here, on both the men’s and women’s sides,” he said. “We had the foundation. We just needed to build on it.”
And build they did. With Shalom as a veteran leader, the team quickly established itself as a dominant force, winning back-to-back MLR Championships in 2018 and 2019.
“There’s something in the water here in the Pacific Northwest,” Shalom says happily. “It’s more than just the players. It’s their families, the fans, and the wider Seattle community embracing those who come in. That’s baked into the DNA of the Seawolves.”
A fierce competitor on the field, Shalom also brought his expertise to team culture. He emphasized teamwork over individual success, with everyone working toward a shared goal. Playing for each other and the fans became a core part of the team’s identity.
That winning culture still holds today. “Look at the history. This team has been in contention almost every year,” he said. “That’s not an accident.”
But for Shalom, success wasn’t just about trophies, but about passing the game down to the next generation. From the moment he joined the Seawolves, he saw the need for youth outreach.
“In the early days of the Seawolves, we had to ask, how do we introduce a new pro sport? How do we connect this to people who have never touched a rugby ball?” he said.
That question led to the creation of Run with the Pack, a Seawolves community program that brought rugby to local YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, and schools. “We wanted to reach kids where they were,” Shalom explained. “If we wanted rugby to grow, we had to start in those communities.”
Today, that grassroots approach remains a core part of Seawolves outreach.
And Shalom’s dedication to service doesn’t stop at rugby. He’s been a longtime volunteer with the Special Olympics, working to create more opportunities for athletes of all abilities. “Sports gave me so much,” he said. “For a lot of people, it’s an outlet for self-expression.” The Special Olympics community faces unique challenges, and Shalom wanted to help players get the access they deserve. “Inclusivity is a core value in both Special Olympics and rugby, so there’s a natural alignment there,” he said.
Looking ahead, Shalom is thinking even bigger. He’s currently working with the Seattle Sports Commission on a feasibility study to help bring the Rugby World Cup to the U.S. in 2031 and 2033.
“The question is… what’s the legacy of that?” he said. “Hopefully, we grow the game, but beyond that, rugby can help tackle bigger issues. We need to get kids outside, active, and engaged. Rugby has a place in that.”
With a career spanning two decades, Shalom has seen firsthand what it takes to succeed at the highest levels.
His strongest piece of advice? Master communication.
“There’s background noise, and then there’s effective communication,” he said. “That difference can make an average player great, or vice versa.” Says Shalom, knowing when to speak up, when to listen, and how to give and take is a skill that’s often dismissed. But in big games, big plays, and crucial moments, these abilities can make all the difference.
Fitness is just as important, both physically and mentally. “Fit in the body, fit in the mind.” When players are exhausted, their decision-making suffers, so endurance and conditioning are just as crucial as strength and speed. He also encourages young athletes to develop instincts by playing different sports and modified games, since real-game experience matters more than just drills.
Even flexibility plays a role. “It’s power in rugby,” Shalom said. “If you have mobility and movement, it extends your career and prevents injuries. It’s a tool that a lot of players overlook.”
When asked about his most memorable moment, Shalom doesn’t hesitate.
During the 2019 season, in the middle of a heated match, the stadium erupted in cheers. It wasn’t for a try, a tackle, or a big play.
It was for his daughter, running onto the field, dressed as a Pink Power Ranger.
“I had no idea she was coming,” Shalom laughed. “At first, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, is this our first streaker?’ But then I turned around and saw my daughter – completely the opposite of what I expected. My mind was racing.”
The timing was perfect – the team had just scored, and as the conversion kick was lined up, his daughter sprinted toward him.
“I looked at her and said, ‘Sweetie, what are you doing here?’ She just grinned, then ran straight back to her mom. The crowd loved it.
For me, winning was great, but that memory is something I’ll always have. We got some great photos of it, and I’ve even framed one.”
Today, Shalom Suniula has stepped off the field, but his influence is woven into the Seawolves’ identity. He helped build a championship-winning team, launched youth rugby initiatives, and remains a driving force behind the sport’s growth in America today.
His passion for the game never wavers. Now, he carries it on through mentorship, volunteer work, and other efforts to bring world-class rugby to Seattle.
“I’ll always be a Seawolf,” Shalom said. “The fans, the team, the city, it’s all family.”
From Olympic training camps to MLR glory, from youth rugby clinics to World Cup ambitions, Shalom Suniula’s legacy is far from finished.
And in Seattle, the place where he helped build something special, his impact will always be felt.
The Seattle Seawolves are proud to honor Shalom Suniula as a Seawolves Legend, not only for his achievements on the field, but for his unwavering commitment to the sport, his teammates, and the broader rugby community.
Shalom has built a legacy of leadership, resilience, and passion, and while his playing days may be behind him, his influence on the game – and on those who follow in his footsteps – is far from over.
