Shannon Paku Rugby player
Shannon Paku (born 23 September 1980 in Masterton, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who has played for the Hurricanes in the Super 14 competition, and for the Vodafone Wellington Lions who play in the Air New Zealand Cup.Paku joined French club US Montauban for the 2008-2009 season. He plays on the wing and at fullback. In 2003, he was signed to the (Auckland) Blues. He returned to Wellington and to play for the Hurricanes for the 2004 season.Paku has also represented the New Zealand Māori rugby union team and was a member of the 2001 New Zealand Under 21 squad that won the International Under 21 tournament, as well as winning the Churchill Cup in 2006 with the NZ Māori.Prior to joining Wellington, he represented Wairarapa Bush and played for the Manawatu Under-16s and Secondary School teams.Shannon has been strongly linked with a move to Guinness Premiership side Leeds Carnegie for the start of the 2010-2011 season after his current team US Montauban were relegated from the Top 14 league for a punishment due to financial irregularities. Paku played for the Manawatu Turbos in the 2010 ITM Cup.