Karl Tu'inukuafe

Karl Tu'inukuafe
Birth name George Karl Tu'inukuafe Jr
Date of birth (1993-02-21) 21 February 1993
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 135 kg (21 st 4 lb; 298 lb)
School Wesley College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team North Harbour, Chiefs
All Black No. 1171
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2016
2015–
2018
2019–		 Narbonne
North Harbour
Chiefs
Blues		 23
17
16
0		 (0)
(5)
(5)
(0)
Correct as of 20 May 2018
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018– New Zealand 9 (0)
Correct as of 7 October 2018

George Karl Tu'inukuafe Jr (born 21 February 1993) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition.[1] His position of choice is loosehead prop.

Early life

Tu'inukuafe is an ex-pupil of Wesley College and played for their 1st XV Rugby team alongside current Chiefs teammate Nepo Laulala, as well as former All Blacks Malakai Fekitoa and Augustine Pulu. Tu'inukuafe worked as a Security Guard prior to signing to play for the North Harbour Rugby Union in 2015.

Playing career

Early career

Tu'inukuafe rose to prominence in the 2018 Super Rugby season when he was selected for the Chiefs as injury cover after season-ending injuries to rookies Aidan Ross and Atunaisa Moli. Tu'inukuafe became a regular starter for the Chiefs almost immediately and made 16 appearances for the club during 2018.

Tu'inukuafe was later selected for the All Blacks after Tim Perry was ruled out of the first two mid-year tests against France. Tu'inukuafe made his debut against France in their first June test match, which took place on 9 June 2018. Tu'inukuafe replaced Joe Moody off the bench, early in the second-half and was one of the best performing substitute players as the All Blacks won 52–11. [2][3][4] Tu'inukuafe replaced Moody off the bench in the next two tests of the series, including the final, which the All Blacks won by 49–14, making the series a 3–0 win for New Zealand.

After starting for the Chiefs in their Super Rugby quarter-final against the Hurricanes on 20th July 2018, the Super Rugby season ended for Tu'inukuafe, with the Chiefs losing 31-32. Following the match it was announced that Tu'inukuafe had committed to New Zealand Rugby until 2021. Tu'inukuafe is scheduled to move to the Blues for the 2019 Super Rugby season as part of his three-year deal.

Tu'inukuafe made his first start for the All Blacks during the 2018 Rugby Championship, starring in a 46-24 victory over Argentina's Los Pumas on the 8th September. Tu'inukuafe was replaced by Tim Perry in the 59th minute and was one of the best-performing All Blacks against Los Pumas. Tu'inukuafe started again the following week, against South Africa's Springboks, after Joe Moody was ruled out with injury for the rest of the competition. New Zealand had a shock loss to South Africa, losing 34-36, despite Tu'iukuafe's 59-minute dominance over South African counterpart props, Frans Malherbe and Wilco Louw. [5][6]

Personal life

Tu'inukuafe returned to playing rugby due to a significant weight gain when he was working as a Security Guard. Tu'inukuafe weighed in at 170kg before returning to rugby and lost 35kg, between then and making his international debut for New Zealand, becoming the second-to-heaviest All Black in history, second only to former All Black Neemia Tialata.

References

  1. ↑ "Karl Tu'inukuafe". www.itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  2. ↑ McConnell, Lynn (10 June 2018). "New prop's example inspired All Blacks". All Blacks. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  3. ↑ Long, David (7 June 2018). "From bouncer to the All Blacks, the remarkable rise of Karl Tu'inukuafe". Stuff. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  4. ↑ "From fat to fit, All Blacks prop caps meteoric rise". Radio New Zealand. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  5. ↑ Alderson, Andrew (7 June 2018). "Rugby Championship: All Blacks v Springboks player ratings". Stuff. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "From fat to fit, All Blacks prop caps meteoric rise". New Zealand Herald. 15 September 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
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