Shannon Michael Frizell was born on 11 February 1994 in Folaha, Tonga. He is a Tongan born New Zealand rugby union player.
Frizell built his career as a hard-hitting flanker for the Highlanders, the All Blacks, and Japan’s Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.
Who is Shannon Michael Frizell?
Shannon Michael Frizell is a professional rugby union player from Tonga who represents New Zealand. He plays primarily as a blindside flanker, though he can also cover lock and number eight.
Frizell earned 33 test caps for the All Blacks between 2018 and 2023. He also played 68 games for the Highlanders in Super Rugby Pacific.
His younger years were shaped by two countries. Tonga gave him his roots, while New Zealand gave him his professional rugby platform.
Early Life of Shannon Michael Frizell
Frizell was born and raised in the village of Folaha, Tonga. His adoptive family raised him there after his biological parents relocated to Australia with his older brother.
That brother is Tyson Frizell, who plays in Australia’s National Rugby League. Immigration rules at the time kept Shannon from joining his parents and brother across the Tasman Sea.
As a boy, Frizell started out in football rather than rugby. He played for Folaha Football Club and then represented the Tonga national under-17 football team in 2010 and 2011.
He appeared for that under-17 side at the 2011 OFC U-17 Championship in New Zealand. Life changed direction the same year, when he switched from football to rugby.
Frizell moved to Nelson, New Zealand, in 2015 to chase a professional rugby career. He joined the Marist club and signed a development contract with Tasman Rugby Union that year.
Shannon Michael Frizell Age
Shannon Michael Frizell is 32 years old as of 2026, born on 11 February 1994. His zodiac sign is Aquarius.
He turned professional as a teenager after switching codes in 2011. That early decision to leave football behind eventually carried him all the way to the All Blacks jersey.
Shannon Michael Frizell Ethnicity and Nationality
Frizell is Tongan by birth and holds New Zealand nationality through his rugby career and residency. He represents the New Zealand All Blacks on the international stage.
His ethnic background is Tongan, tied closely to his upbringing in Folaha. Family ties also link him to Australia through his brother, Tyson, who grew up there with their parents.
Shannon Michael Frizell Height and Weight
Frizell stands 6 feet 5 inches tall, which is 1.95 meters. His playing weight has been listed at around 108 kg, or 238 lbs, though some recent sources list him closer to 116 kg.
His frame suits his role as a physical, ball-carrying loose forward. That size, combined with pace from his football background, has long made him a handful for opposing packs.
Shannon Michael Frizell Education
Frizell attended ‘Apifo’ou College, a Catholic school on the main Tongan island of Tongatapu. He completed his early schooling there before switching from football to rugby in 2011.
His college years were also when he first represented Tonga at underage level. That period at ‘Apifo’ou College laid the foundation for his move to New Zealand a few years later.
Shannon Michael Frizell Career
Frizell’s rugby career began properly after his 2015 move to Nelson. He has since played for Tasman, the Highlanders, the All Blacks, and Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.
Breakthrough at the Highlanders
Frizell made his provincial debut for Tasman in 2016 and played in every match that season. A strong 2017 Mako campaign, with appearances at lock, flanker, and number eight, earned him a Super Rugby contract with the Highlanders.
He scored a hat-trick of tries against the Blues at Eden Park on 20 April 2018. That performance pushed him into contention for the All Blacks squad.
New Zealand called him up for the 2018 June series soon after. Frizell made his test debut against France on 23 June 2018 at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, playing 71 minutes as New Zealand won 49-14.
He had to leave the field briefly for treatment on an eye injury during that debut. Highlanders teammate Jackson Hemopo, also debuting that day, covered for him before he returned in the 31st minute.
In 2019, the Highlanders named him their player of the year. By 2020, Frizell had become the All Blacks’ first-choice blindside flanker, starting Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship tests against Australia.
Notable Test Matches and the 2023 World Cup
Frizell played three matches at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. He remained a regular in the All Blacks pack through 2020, 2021, and 2022, adding to his cap tally each season.
He was named in New Zealand’s squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Frizell started at blindside flanker in the final against South Africa in Paris.
Just two minutes into that final, referee Wayne Barnes sin-binned Frizell for a dangerous clear-out on Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi. South Africa went on to win the match 12-11.
That World Cup marked the end of his first spell with New Zealand Rugby. Frizell left for Japan afterward, ending his run with 33 All Blacks caps and 68 games for the Highlanders.
Recent Work in Japan and Return Home
Frizell signed with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo in Japan Rugby League One in 2023. The club won back-to-back league titles in 2024 and 2025 under coach Todd Blackadder, with Frizell playing 37 matches for the side.
He also turned out for the ANZAC XV against the touring British and Irish Lions in Australia in 2025. In April 2026, Frizell signed an 18-month deal with New Zealand Rugby, Tasman, and the Highlanders to return home.
Under current New Zealand Rugby eligibility rules, he had to play the 2026 Bunnings NPC season with Tasman before rejoining the Highlanders for 2027 Super Rugby Pacific. Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph welcomed the signing, saying Frizell would fit seamlessly back into the squad.
The move also puts Frizell back in contention for All Blacks selection under new coach Dave Rennie. He has said the goal is to make New Zealand’s squad for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Shannon Michael Frizell Awards and Recognition
Frizell was named Highlanders player of the year in 2019 following a standout Super Rugby season. He also helped Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo win back-to-back Japan Rugby League One championships in 2024 and 2025.
No individual All Blacks honors, such as Player of the Match awards, have been publicly confirmed for his test career. His recognition has mostly come at club level through team success.
Shannon Michael Frizell Girlfriend
Shannon Frizell has reportedly been in a relationship with a partner named Hannah. The pair have been pictured together at All Blacks matches, including after New Zealand’s 2020 Bledisloe Cup win over Australia at Eden Park.
Further details about the relationship, including a wedding or engagement, are not publicly confirmed.
Shannon Michael Frizell Net Worth
Shannon Frizell’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026. His income comes mainly from his New Zealand Rugby and Super Rugby contracts, along with his club deal in Japan.
He has also earned income through All Blacks test match fees and sponsorship interest tied to his profile as a test player. His base rugby salary has previously ranged between NZ$75,000 and NZ$195,000 a year at various points in his career.
Additional income has come from his three seasons with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo in Japan Rugby League One. Winning back-to-back titles there is likely to have added performance-based bonuses on top of his base contract.
Shannon Michael Frizell Social Media
Frizell is active on Instagram under the handle @kingnoni676. He shares posts related to his rugby career, training, and personal life through the platform.
The Bottom Line
Frizell’s defining career moment came in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in Paris, where he started at blindside flanker for the All Blacks. New Zealand lost that final 12-11 to South Africa after Frizell was sin-binned two minutes into the match.
He grew up in Folaha, Tonga, raised by an adoptive family after his brother Tyson moved to Australia with their parents. That upbringing, split between two countries, shaped both his football-first sporting start and his later switch to rugby in 2011.
Frizell is now back in New Zealand rugby after three seasons with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo in Japan. He signed with Tasman and the Highlanders in April 2026, chasing a return to the All Blacks ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
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