Taniela Tupou

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Height: 175cm
Weight: 135kg
Born: 10/05/1996
Place of Birth: Vaini, Tonga
Senior Club: Brothers
School: Sacred Heart College, NZ

Representative Honours
Queensland Country NRC (2015-2016)
Queensland Under 20s (2016)
Queensland (2016-)
Wallabies development player (2016)

Follow @nella_2pou

Playing History

Representative	Caps	Points	Debut
NRC: Queensland Country	13	21 (4T)	2015 v Brisbane City, Toowoomba
Queensland	15	20 (4T)	2016 v Brumbies, Canberra
Super Rugby	15	20 (4T)	2016 v Brumbies, Canberra
Test Rugby	-	-	-

Player Bio

Since shooting into the spotlight on his 18th birthday by scoring a remarkable hat-trick in a New Zealand school match, Taniela ‘Tongan Thor’ Tupou has been turning heads.

The 135kg, 19-year-old prop grew up in Tonga, but moved to Auckland to join Sacred Heart College on a scholarship in 2011, after touring New Zealand with a Tongan Under-14 side.

Tupou grew up wanting to play for the Wallabies and joined the Reds ahead of the 2015 season to begin chasing that dream. He spent 2015 training full-time with the Reds and playing for Brothers in Queensland Premier Rugby.

His strong performances for Brothers gave many local spectators a taste of his capabilities, which he backed up for Queensland Country in the National Rugby Championship - scoring two match-winning tries. His hard work on and off the field was finally rewarded with a Super Rugby debut late in the 2016 season when he took the field as a reserve against the Brumbies in Canberra. Tupou scored a try in the final stages of the match, which he dedicated to his mother Loisi back in Tonga.

2017

Continued his development as a young tighthead, including two matches in the starting side. Scored a double in his second start against the Blues in Samoa just weeks after his 21st birthday.

2016

Made his Super Rugby debut for the Reds against the Brumbies in Canberra, scoring a try in the late stages of the match. Joined Brothers for the back end of the Queensland Premier Rugby season and helped them claim their first Hospital Cup since 2009. Represented Queensland Country in the NRC. Joined the Wallabies as a development player on the Spring Tour.

2015

Wowed fans, teammates and opponents alike with his dynamic performances in his first season of senior Rugby for Brothers in Queensland Premier Rugby. Made his National Rugby Championship debut for Queensland Country in the Andy Purcell Cup match against Brisbane City in Toowoomba. Announced in Reds Senior Squad for 2016 Super Rugby season. Signed a contract extension until 2018.

2014

Signed a two-year deal with the Reds in September and joined the side for pre-season training after graduating from high school in Auckland.

*Please note, the scoring in the National Rugby Championship changed from seasons 1 and 2 to season 3. In 2014 and 2015 tries were worth 5 points, conversions 3 points, penalties/drop goals 2 points. In 2016, tries were worth 6 points, conversions/penalty goals/drop goals 2 points.