Taniela Tupou (rugby union)

Taniela Tupou (born 10 May 1996) is an Australian professional rugby union player. He plays as a tight head prop for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby and has represented Australia in international rugby. Born in Tonga he qualifies for Australia by residency.

This article is about the Tongan-born Australian rugby union prop. For other people, see Taniela Tupou.

Taniela Tupou
Full nameTaniela Tupou
Date of birth (1996-05-10) 10 May 1996
Place of birthTongatapu, Tonga
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight135 kg (21 st 4 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2018 Queensland Country ()
Correct as of 16 July 2023
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2023 Reds 88 (120)
2024– Rebels ()
Correct as of 16 July 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017– Australia 51 (30)
Correct as of 24 September 2023

Early life and career

Tupou became known as a schoolboy rugby player. While playing for Auckland’s Sacred Heart College First XV in 2014, he became an internet sensation for his three tries against Kelston Boys High School, earning him the nickname "Tongan Thor".[1]

On 22 June 2014, he was named in the Pacific Barbarians squad, captained by All Black legend Justin Marshall, to play Tonga during the 2014 mid-year rugby union internationals. Tonga won the match 36–14 at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland.

The following month Tupou was given a deadline to sign a loyalty agreement to be eligible for the New Zealand Schoolboys team. However, he declined the offer.[2] Despite interest from rugby clubs in France and England as well as New Zealand Super Rugby franchises Chiefs and Blues,[3] Tupou's desire to play for the Wallabies lured him to Australia where his brother, Criff Tupou, resided.[4]

Michael Cheika, head coach of the New South Wales Waratahs commented that he had an eye on Tupou well before he emerged on television with his three-try effort,[5] but on 12 September 2014 Tupou was officially named in the Queensland Reds squad for the 2015 season.[6]

Rugby career

Tupou played his first game for the Brothers Old Boys club in 2015, in a trial match alongside his 25-year-old brother Criff Tupou.[7] After completing the full 2015 season in Queensland Premier Rugby with Brothers, he joined Queensland Country to play in the National Rugby Championship.[8]

After playing for Queensland Under-20 in 2016,[9] he made his debut for the Reds in 2016.[10] Tupou toured as a development player in the Australian national squad for the 2016 Wallabies tour.[11] His strong NRC form for Queensland Country the following year led to his international debut for the Wallabies against Scotland at Murrayfield on 24 November 2017.[12]

Super Rugby statistics
As of 1 May 2022 [13]
SeasonTeam Apps Start Sub Mins T C PG DG Pts YC RC
2016Reds 3031081000500
2017Reds 1441053130001500
2018Reds 1515091640002010
2019 Reds 15 13 2 887 4 0 0 0 20 1 0
2020 Reds 7 7 0 513 3 0 0 0 15 1 0
2020 AU Reds 10 10 0 708 1 0 0 0 5 1 0
2021 AU Reds 9 8 1 582 5 0 0 0 25 0 0
2021 TT Reds 5 4 1 250 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022 Reds 9 7 2 555 3 0 0 0 15 2 0
2023 Reds 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 8869195,1732400012060

References
  1. "Video: Watch Sacred Heart College student Daniel Tupou score a devastating hat-trick". FoxSports. 13 May 2014. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  2. "'Tongan Thor' Taniela Tupou set to snub New Zealand and defect to Australia". The Courier-Mail. 8 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  3. Marc Hinton (20 May 2014). "Tongan teen Taniela Tupou on the Blues' radar". Stuff. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  4. "Teenage rugby superstar Taniela Tupou, the Tongan Thor, snubs All Blacks to defect to Australia". FoxSports. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  5. "'Tongan Thor' Taniela Tupou set to snub New Zealand and defect to Australia". Fox Sports. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  6. "'Tongan Thor' Taniela Tupou joins St.George Queensland Reds in 2015". Reds Rugby. 12 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  7. "Queensland Reds prodigy Taniela Tupou, better known as Tongan Thor, makes debut for Brothers club". FoxSports. 28 February 2015. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  8. "NRC Preview: Five Rookies to watch in 2015". Green and Gold Rugby. 18 August 2015. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  9. "Queensland Under-20s team named for inaugural Super U20s Championship clash against NSW". Reds Rugby. 25 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  10. "For Taniela Tupou, the opportunity to be coached by Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu is a dream come true". Rugby Australia. 26 August 2016. Archived from the original on 25 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  11. "'Tongan Thor' Taniela Tupou selected for Wallabies European tour". Stuff. 26 October 2016. Archived from the original on 25 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  12. "Scotland vs Wallabies: Player ratings". Rugby Australia. 25 November 2017. Archived from the original on 25 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  13. "Player Statistics". It's Rugby.
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