Taulima Tautai

Last updated

Taulima Tautai
Taulima Tautai.jpg
Personal information
Born (1988-04-03) 3 April 1988 (age 36) [1]
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height190 cm (6 ft 3 in) [1]
Weight116 kg (18 st 4 lb) [1]
Position Prop, Second-row, Lock, Centre, Wing
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
2008–09 Parramatta Eels 3090036
2010–11 Cronulla Sharks 3340016
2012–13 Parramatta Eels 91004
2013–14 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 262008
2015–19 Wigan Warriors 13340016
Total231200080
Source: [2] [3]

Taulima Tautai born 3 April 1988 [4] is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer, who has most recently played as a prop for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League. He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Parramatta Eels and the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

Contents

Background

Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Tautai attended St Gregory's College, Campbelltown. [5]

Taulima played his junior rugby league for CVD Edensor Park Cobras, before being signed by the Parramatta Eels.

Playing career

Tautai's position of choice was originally in the centres or on the wing.

He made his first-grade début for the Parramatta Eels in round 1 of the 2008 NRL season, going on to play 30 games for the club between 2008 and 2009. Tautai won Parramatta Eels' rookie of the season award in 2008.

Although born in Sydney, Tautai is of Samoan and New Zealand descent. Because of his heritage, he was named in the Samoan [6] and New Zealand training squads for the 2008 World Cup. [7] However, he suffered an injury and did not make the final squad for either nation.

Tautai played 33 games for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks between 2010 and 2011.

He returned to the Parramatta Eels in 2012 but injury and form kept him to only 9 appearances. Tautai was part of the Parramatta side that finished last in the competition that year which was the first time the club had finished last since 1972. [8] [9]

Tautai joined the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the Super League for the 2013 and 2014 seasons, playing in 22 matches.

Tautai joined the Wigan Warriors in November 2014, signing a three-year deal. [10]

He played from the bench in the 2016 Super League Grand Final victory over the Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford. [11]

He played in the 2017 Challenge Cup Final defeat by Hull F.C. at Wembley Stadium. [12]

In 2018, he played over 20 matches for the season, but was not selected in the finals series, and was not a part of the 2018 Super League Grand Final final winning side. [13] [14] Tautai left the Wigan Warriors in June 2019 following a drink-driving conviction. [15]

Whilst Tautai was known mostly for his Rugby career, he took place in charity and community work off the field. He donated his 2016 Grand Final ring to a local Wigan family to assist them in raising money for the SANDs charity. A Charity that looks after family who have lost their babies. [16] Alongside his wife, they started the Wigan Warriors Campaign 'Respect Her' after working with the Women's Refuge to draw attention to issues within the local community. [17] Tautai also shaved off his long locks to raise money for suicide awareness in honour of his mother-in-law 'The Jenny Project'. [18]

On 30 June 2019, he announced that he would be retiring from rugby league. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Gregory's College, Campbelltown</span> School in Australia

St Gregory's College Campbelltown is an independent Roman Catholic single-sex and co-educational comprehensive and specialist primary and secondary day and boarding school, located in Gregory Hills, near Campbelltown, a south-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. With specialist expertise as an agricultural school, St Gregory's College provides a co-educational environment for students in the Kindergarten to Year 6 primary school; and a boys-only environment for students in the Year 7 to Year 12 secondary schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Smith (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Timothy Aiden Smith is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He previously played for Super League clubs Wigan Warriors and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (twice), and Salford Red Devils, and in Australia for the Parramatta Eels and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks of the National Rugby League in the NRL. Smith's usual position was in the halves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kylie Leuluai</span> Former Samoa international rugby league footballer

Kylie Leuluai is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer. A New Zealand Māori and Samoa international representative prop, he most notably played at club level for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. He also played club football in Australia for National Rugby League clubs; the Balmain Tigers, Wests Tigers, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels, and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Hodgson</span> Australian rugby league footballer and coach

Brett Hodgson is an Australian rugby league coach and former professional player during the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Roberts (rugby league)</span> NZ & Samoa international rugby league footballer

Benjamin Tapuloa Roberts is a former professional rugby league footballer who last played as a fullback, stand-off or scrum-half for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League. He is a former New Zealand and Samoan international.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krisnan Inu</span> NZ & Samoa international rugby league footballer

Krisnan Nevada Inu is a former professional rugby league footballer who is currently Assistant Coach at Salford Red Devils. He has played for both New Zealand and Samoa at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabramatta Two Blues</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Cabramatta, NSW

Cabramatta Two Blues, colloquially known as Cabra, is an Australian rugby league football club that was originally formed in 1919 and then later completely formed as the Two Blues in 1939. They have always based from the Parramatta Junior Leagues, and their junior teams compete in the Parramatta District Junior Rugby League Association. They currently compete in the Sydney Shield and have previously competed in the Ron Massey Cup however both sides did not field a side for the 2022 season in either competition. They play out of the Cabramatta, New South Wales, Sports Ground Complex which can fit up to 5,000 spectators. The Two Blues have won numerous A-Grade Titles with their last Premiership received in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank-Paul Nu'uausala</span> New Zealand rugby league footballer

Frank-Paul Nu'uausala, also known by the nicknames of "Frank Paul the Wrecking Ball" or "Frank the tank", is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer. A New Zealand international representative forward, Nu'uausala most notably played for the Sydney Roosters with whom he won the 2013 NRL Premiership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blake Green</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Blake Green is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a five-eighth and halfback in the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Paulo</span> US & Samoa international rugby league footballer

Joseph Paulo is a former professional rugby league footballer who last played as a loose forward, second-row and stand-off for Pia in the Elite Two Championship. He has played for both Samoa and the United States at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangere East Hawks</span> NZ rugby league club, based in Māngere

The Mangere East Hawks are a rugby league based in Māngere, New Zealand. The Hawks compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Mortimer</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Daniel Mortimer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played as a hooker, scrum-half or stand-off for the Leigh Centurions in the Betfred Championship. He previously played for the Parramatta Eels, Gold Coast Titans, Sydney Roosters and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Mortimer was a Prime Minister's XIII representative and won the 2013 NRL Grand Final with the Roosters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ava Seumanufagai</span> NZ rugby league footballer

Ava Seumanufagai is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who is the captain-coach of Campbelltown City Kangaroos. He has previously played for Leigh Leopards in the Betfred Super League, Wests Tigers, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL and the Leeds Rhinos in the European Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Powell</span> English professional rugby league footballer

Sam Powell is an English rugby league footballer who plays as a scrum-half or hooker for the Warrington Wolves in the Super League and the England Knights at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Hasson</span> Ireland international rugby league footballer

James Hasson is an Ireland international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop forward for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NSW Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fa'amanu Brown</span> Samoa international rugby league footballer

Fa'amanu Brown is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback and hooker for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and has represented Samoa and New Zealand at international level. He has also played at five-eighth and lock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bevan French</span> Australian professional rugby league footballer

Bevan French is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback, wing, or stand-off for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Eisenhuth</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Matt Eisenhuth is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a lock for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Kaufusi</span> Professional rugby league footballer

Oregon Kaufusi is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Taulima Tautai Wigan Warriors". Superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  2. "loverugbyleague".
  3. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Taulima Tautai - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  4. "Taulima Tautai - Parramatta Eels". Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  5. "Macarthur Chronicle - News Local Newspaper - Daily Telegraph". macarthur-chronicle-campbelltown.whereilive.com.au. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  6. "Samoa name World Cup Squad". League Unlimited. 5 August 2008. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
  7. "Kiwis select Sonny Bill". Sky Sports. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  8. Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Custom Match List - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  9. "Season review: Parramatta Eels". www.nrl.com. 2 October 2012.
  10. "BBC Sport - Wigan Warriors: Taulima Tautai to join from Wakefield in 2015". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  11. "Warrington 6-12 Wigan: Super League Grand Final – as it happened!". Guardian. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  12. "Hull FC 18-14 Wigan recap as the Black and Whites claim back-to-back Challenge Cup triumphs". Mirror. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  13. "Super League Grand Final: Warrington Wolves 6-12 Wigan Warriors". BBC Sport. 8 October 2016.
  14. Darbyshire, Drew (13 October 2018). "Wigan crowned 2018 Super League champions".
  15. "Wigan Warriors: Taulima Tautai leaves after drink-driving conviction". BBC Sport. 25 June 2019.
  16. "Mum stunned by Wigan Warriors star's generous gesture | Wigan Today" . Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  17. "Wigan prop Taulima Tautai turns attention from super league pitch to domestic violence". Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  18. Wigan Warriors Community Foundation 🍒⚪️ [@WiganWarriorsCF] (29 October 2018). "Please donate what you can to support T H E J E N N Y P R O J E C T https://t.co/PLdcZNdcZc… Taulima Tautai is shaving his head to help raise funds for this very special cause #inspiring SHAVE IT OFF Yes, I am shaving my head and donating my hair. https://t.co/PLdcZNdcZc… https://t.co/hJGEUNvTkb" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 10 September 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023 via Twitter.
  19. "Departing Wigan Warriors star Taulima Tautai to retire from rugby league". www.wigantoday.net.