Who Is Joanne Lagona? Wiki, Biography, Height, Weight, Age, Wife, Family, and More

Joanne Lagona (born 2 January 1989, Age: 35 years old) is a rugby star from Papua New Guinea who has made history by becoming the first woman from her country to play professionally in Japan. She is also a dual international, representing Papua New Guinea in both rugby union and rugby league.

She is widely regarded as one of the best outside backs in the Pacific region, with her speed, agility, and skills earning her praise and admiration from fans and opponents alike.

Early Life and Education

Joanne Lagona was born on January 2, 1989, in Lalaura Village, in the Central province of Papua New Guinea. She grew up in a humble and supportive family, with her parents encouraging her to pursue her passion for sports.

She attended Sogeri High School, where she excelled in athletics, soccer, and rugby. She was also a good student, who dreamed of becoming a lawyer or a journalist.

Joanne Lagona Wiki/Bio

Rugby Career

Joanne started playing rugby at the age of 15 when she joined the Sogeri High School girls’ rugby team. She quickly showed her talent and potential and was selected to represent the Central province in the national championships. She also caught the eye of the national selectors, who invited her to join the Papua New Guinea national rugby union 15s team in 2011. She made her debut against Samoa in the Oceania Women’s Championship and has since been a regular member of the team, playing in various tournaments such as the Pacific Nations Cup, the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship, and the Women’s Rugby World Cup Qualifiers.

In 2022, Joanne Lagona made another breakthrough, when she was selected to play for the Papua New Guinea national rugby league team, also known as the Orchids. She became one of the few players to represent her country in both codes of rugby and was impressed with her performance in the inaugural Women’s Rugby League World Cup, scoring a try against Australia in the group stage. She also played in the Prime Minister’s XIII match against Australia and was named one of the best players of the game.

In 2023, Lagona achieved a historic feat, when she signed a contract to play for the Toyota Verblitz, a professional rugby union club in Japan. She became the first woman from Papua New Guinea, and one of the few from the Pacific, to play professionally overseas. She joined the club as an outside back and has been a key player for the team, helping them to win several matches and trophies.

Personal Life, Spouse & Kids

Joanne Lagona is married to John Lagona, a former rugby player and coach, who has been her mentor and supporter throughout her career. They have two children, a son and a daughter, who are also interested in rugby. Joanne is a devoted mother and wife, who balances her family life and her rugby career with grace and dedication.

Social Media Presence

Lagona is also active on social media, where she shares her photos and videos of her rugby adventures, as well as her personal and family moments. She has over 10,000 followers on Instagram, where she uses the hashtag #joannelagona to showcase her posts. She also has a Facebook profile, where she interacts with her fans and friends.

Height, Weight, and Other Facts

Joanne is 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall and weighs 143 lbs (65 kg). She has black hair and brown eyes. She is 35 years old in 2024. She is a Christian and belongs to the Motu-Koitabu ethnic group. She speaks English and Tok Pisin, the official languages of Papua New Guinea.

She is a fan of the All Blacks, the New Zealand national rugby union team, and her favorite player is Dan Carter, the legendary fly-half. She also likes to watch movies, listen to music, and read books in her spare time.

Net Worth and Income Sources

Joanne Lagona’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million as of 2024. She earns her income from playing professional rugby in Japan, as well as from representing Papua New Guinea in international tournaments.

Gender

Lagona identifies as a woman and has not publicly disclosed details about her sexual orientation. She maintains a private stance on this aspect of her personal life. While her physical appearance has sparked questions and assumptions about her sexuality, it is essential to emphasize that personal matters of this nature should be respected as private choices. She is married to John Lagona, a former rugby player and coach, and they have two children together.

Controversies

Joanne has faced some controversies in her rugby career, mainly related to her gender and eligibility. In 2022, she was falsely accused of being born a man by some online trolls, who saw a video of her smashing an Australian opponent in a rugby league match. The trolls claimed that she had an unfair advantage over other female players, and that she should not be allowed to play in the women’s rugby league. However, these claims were baseless and hurtful, and were blasted by many rugby fans and officials, who defended Lagona and praised her for her skills and achievements.

In 2023, she was dropped from the Papua New Guinea Orchids squad for the Rugby League World Cup, after allegedly breaching her contract. According to the Orchids coach Ben Jeffries, Lagona had signed a deal with the Toyota Verblitz in Japan, without informing the Orchids management.

He said that this was a violation of her contract and that she had to be released from the team. Lagona, however, denied any wrongdoing and said that she had informed the Orchids management about her move to Japan and that she had received their approval. She said that she was disappointed and hurt by the decision and that she still wanted to play for her country.

Nationality, Ethnicity, and Religion

Joanne is a citizen of Papua New Guinea and holds a Papua New Guinean passport. She was born and raised in Lalaura Village, in the Central province of Papua New Guinea. She belongs to the Motu-Koitabu ethnic group, which is one of the indigenous groups of Papua New Guinea.

She speaks English and Tok Pisin, the official languages of Papua New Guinea. She is a Christian and follows the Protestant denomination of Christianity. She is proud of her nationality, ethnicity, and religion, and often expresses her gratitude and love for her country and culture.

Joanne Lagona is a remarkable woman who has overcome many challenges and barriers to achieve her dreams and goals. She is a trailblazer and a role model for many young girls and women in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, who aspire to follow her footsteps and play rugby at the highest level. She is also a proud ambassador of her country and culture, who showcases the talent and potential of Papua New Guinea on the global stage. She is a true rugby star, who deserves recognition and respect for her achievements and contributions to the sport.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrKynspmle6S7zGiuoqOZZLewrc2nnGakkZy8r62O