‘Tongan Thor’ Taniela Tupou signs two-year Super Rugby contract with Queensland Reds

TANIELA Tupou, the Kiwi schoolboy rugby sensation dubbed the “Tongan Thor”, has been signed for two years by the Queensland Reds.

Daniel ( Taniela ) Tupou of Sacred Heart in action. Auckland Secondary Schools 1st XV rugby union match, Sacred Heart v Kelston Boys at Sacred Heart College, Auckland, New Zealand. Saturday 10th May 2014. Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung / photosport.co.nz

THE Kiwi schoolboy rugby sensation dubbed the “Tongan Thor” has been signed for two years by the Queensland Reds.

Recruiting prop project Taniela Tupou, 18, is a huge coup considering he was a hot property with four countries and two rival Super Rugby franchises.

Reds coach Richard Graham said he was looking forward to seeing Tupou develop his eye-catching skillset in Queensland’s program.

“We’ve been aware of Taniela’s ability since April when the Reds toured New Zealand. I think he is a phenomenal athlete and his YouTube clip in late May is a snippet of what he is capable of at this early stage in his Rugby career,” Graham said.

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That YouTube video of Tupou scoring a hat-trick for Auckland’s Sacred Heart College First XV went viral as the wider rugby world watched his athleticism, destructive size and ball-running.

That the New Zealand Rugby Union should hold last-minute meetings with Tupou in an effort to keep him in their system is the biggest vote that shrewd judges in the world’s top rugby nation see a big future for him.

The 135kg, 18-year-old prop grew up in Tonga but joined Sacred Heart College on a scholarship in 2011 after he toured New Zealand with a Tongan age group side.

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Graham said he would train with the Reds squad later this year when he finished his schooling in Auckland.

“Sam Cordingley (general manager of rugby operations) has done an outstanding job in securing Taniela for the next two seasons. He has worked very closely with Taniela, his brother and his agent to ensure Taniela’s future development is in the Reds rugby program,” Graham said.

Taniela Tupou, the ‘Tongan Thor’, has signed with the Queensland Reds.

“Taniela’s signing is a strong show of support for the quality of our programs. It is well reported that the NZRU, European clubs and other Australian franchises were queuing up to have Nella (Taniela) in their programs.

“He understands there is a lot of hard work in front of him. James Slipper, Ben Daley and Greg Holmes are three outstanding role models for a young front row forward and he will enjoy working under the tutelage of forwards coach Nick Stiles.

“While he is a prop, if you look at some of the tries he has scored, he obviously has a fairly high regard for the likes of Will (Genia) and Quade (Cooper) also — he’s got a few moves.”

Two of Tupou’s siblings live in Australia. The key to Tupou committing to an Australian side is the fact he grew up idolising the Wallabies rather than the All Blacks.

“I grew up in Tonga watching Wallabies and All Blacks games, I always supported the Wallabies because they had some great Tongan players,” Tupou said.

“When I think about the fact I’ve signed a contract with the Reds, I’m speechless. I’m just so excited to join the team, I can’t wait to meet everyone and start training. My goal now is to try and play for the Reds as soon as I can.”

A phone call from Queensland and Wallabies flyhalf Quade Cooper clearly helped the Reds hook the awe-struck youngster.

“Quade called me just to talk about rugby and life. He offered me advice on what I have to consider when making the decision, rather than what decision I should make. He said me and my family were important to the decision and that I need to make sure I’m comfortable with whatever I decide.

“I started supporting the Reds in 2011, Quade and Will Genia are two of my favourite players.”

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie was upbeat about the “Tongan Thor” heading to Australia after watching the video highlights himself.

“You can’t coach being dynamic and he looks like he can carry the ball that’s for sure,” McKenzie said.

“No one has seen him scrum yet but the more depth and variety to the players in our system the better. The more the merrier.

“It’s nice to have a player like that choose Australia for his future.”

Originally published as ‘Tongan Thor’ Taniela Tupou signs two-year Super Rugby contract with Queensland Reds