Tu Nu'uali'itia

Last updated

Tu Nu'uali'itia
BornToetu Nu'uali'itia
(1966-06-22) 22 June 1966 (age 59)
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight188 lb (85 kg)
Rugby union career
Position Scrum-half
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1990-1991 Patumahoe
1992 Glenfield
1993-1996 Te Atatu
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1998-1999 West Hartlepool 22 (15)
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1990-1991 Counties Manukau 24 (24)
1992 North Harbour 6 (5)
1993-1996 Auckland 16 (15)
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1991-1996 Samoa 8 (5)

Toetu "Tu" Nu'uali'itia (born 12 June 1971 in Auckland) is a New Zealand-born Samoan former rugby union player. He played as a scrum-half.

Contents

Biography

Born into a Samoan family, he is the youngest of five children. Starting to take up rugby in elementary school, throughout his career he played in the National Provincial Championship for Counties Manukau, North Harbour and Auckland (under the coaching of Graham Henry). [1]

Career

He played in two Rugby World Cups for Western Samoa in the 1990s. In 1991 he was part of the Samoa squad that memorably beat Wales 16-13 at the Cardiff Arms Park in what is still one of the biggest upsets in international rugby. However, he did not play any match of the tournament. His first match for Western Samoa was in the test match against Tonga at Moamoa, on 4 June 1994. In the 1995 World Cup quarter-finals he scored a try at Ellis Park against the eventual winners, South Africa. His last match for Samoa was against the New Zealand at Napier, on 7 June 1996. [2]

Following his retirement, he worked for the Auckland and Manukau Health Council and joined the private Oceania Career Academy, teaching management skills to Māori and Pacific Islander students. He collaborates with Sport Waitakere, Westforce Credit Union Operations Manager and is correspondent for 2K Plus International Sports Media and Radio Rhema. [3]

Personal life

He professes Christianity and claims that it had a great influence on his life and career. [4] He is married, [5] has two sons and a daughter. [6]

References

  1. "Tu Nu'uali'itia, rugby union". Spreaker. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  2. "Toetu Nu'uali'itia". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  3. "Oceania Career Academy. Mentors and Tutors".
  4. "Tu Nu'uali'itia, rugby union". Spreaker. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  5. "Tu Nu'uali'itia, rugby union". Spreaker. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  6. "Ex-pat fans and players test their loyalties". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 28 April 2021.