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Malakai Fonokalafi Fekitoa (born 10 May 1992) is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Benetton Rugby and the Tonga national team.
Fekitoa moved to Ireland to join United Rugby Championship club Munster Rugby on a two-year contract from the 2022–23 season, and made his senior competitive debut for the province in their 20–13 defeat away to Welsh side Cardiff Rugby in round one of the 2022–23 United Rugby Championship on 17 September 2022. Fekitoa featured off the bench in Munster's historic 28–14 win against a South Africa XV in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on 10 November 2022. He left Munster upon the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, despite having signed a two-year contract. In his final game for the province, Fekitoa started in Munster's 19–14 win against the Stormers in the final of the 2022–23 United Rugby Championship on 27 May 2023.
Fekitoa joined Italian United Rugby Championship club Benetton Rugby on a three-year contract from the 2023–24 season. He made his debut in Round 2 of the 2023–24 season against .
Fekitoa was selected again in 2014 for the New Zealand squad for the Rugby Championship. He was originally named as a reserve for the first test against Australia, but with Conrad Smith's wife expecting, Fekitoa was called up into the starting XV.Mortimer, James (16 August 2014) Conrad to have baby, Wallabies to get Malakai . allblacks.com. Retrieved on 4 November 2015. He was a member of the 2015 Rugby World Cup-winning New Zealand side.
Fekitoa became a regular starter for the All Blacks in 2016, combining with Ryan Crotty to form the midfield partnership for the Wales series in June. Fekitoa began to experience very erratic form, and did not play against Argentina and South Africa that year. He lost his starting spot to Anton Lienert-Brown, coming off the bench for the final Bledisloe Cup test and the first Ireland fixture that year. Fekitoa re-gained his starting spot for the next two tests due to Crotty being injured, with Lienert Brown moving to inside centre so that Fekitoa could play outside centre. Fekitoa scored 2 tries in two games, against Italy and Ireland. Fekitoa was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle against Ireland, so was cited and suspended for the final test match of the year.
Fekitoa was not initially selected for the All Blacks in 2017 for the British & Irish Lions tour but was called up for the third test match after Sonny Bill Williams was issued a red card in the second test match. Fekitoa played his final test match for New Zealand on 8 July 2017 in the final test against the Lions, coming off the bench to replace Ngani Laumape.
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