Augustine Pulu

Augustine Pulu (born 4 January 1990) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. His regular playing position is halfback. He plays for the Blues in Super Rugby and Counties Manukau Steelers in the ITM Cup.

Augustine Pulu
Birth nameAugustine Pulu
Date of birth (1990-01-04) 4 January 1990
Place of birthOtahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight90 kg (198 lb)
SchoolWesley College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Halfback
All Black No. 1136
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010– Counties Manukau 66 (60)
Correct as of 23 October 2016
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–16
2017−		 Chiefs
Blues		 51 (30)
Correct as of 31 July 2016
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014 New Zealand 2 (0)
Correct as of 18 December 2015
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2015– New Zealand

Career

Pulu began his senior career at the Karaka Rugby Football Club, where he debuted for the premier side in 2008. He was a member of the Chiefs wider training group for the 2012 season in which the Hamilton-based franchise claimed their first ever Super Rugby title, and was named in Dave Rennie's full squad for the 2013 season after playing an integral role in the Steelers' ITM Cup Championship triumph in 2012.[1]

He helped the Chiefs win their second Super Rugby title in the final of the 2013 season against the Brumbies with a strong showing from the bench.

Pulu was called in to the All Blacks to cover for the injured Tawera Kerr-Barlow in 2014.[2] Pulu made his debut for New Zealand in the 59th minute of a 74-6 win over the United States in Chicago, coming on for future Sevens and Blues team-mate Sonny Bill Williams. Pulu also replaced TJ Perenara with two minutes left in the 24-16 win over Scotland that year.

He made his New Zealand sevens debut in 2015.[3][4][5] Pulu was selected for the New Zealand Rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics team but the team did not ultimately win a medal. Pulu was called into the All Blacks as a temporary replacement for troublesome veteran Aaron Smith during training for the third Bledisloe cup test of 2016, but did not play in that fixture.

Pulu signed with the Blues for the 2017 season and instantly became a regular starter for the team, delivering many solid performances across the season. Pulu's 2017 season included a start against the touring British and Irish Lions team in the Blues' historic 22-16 win against them on 7 June 2017. Pulu played for almost the entire match before being replaced by rookie Sam Nock with nine minutes left. Pulu also had a good Mitre 10 Cup campaign, but had his season ended prematurely after receiving a two-week suspension due to being red-carded against Manawatu for a dangerous tackle on Jade Te Rure. Counties Manukau went on to win the match 29-24 without Pulu.

Despite being red-carded for Counties Manukau at the end of the 2017 season, Pulu was named by Blues Head Coach Tana Umaga as captain for the 2018 season, replacing veteran hooker James Parsons.

References
  1. "Super Rugby Profile: Chiefs – Augustine Pulu". Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  2. "Augustine Pulu called into All Blacks squad". One News Now. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  3. "Augustine Pulu set for sevens debut". m.nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  4. "Augustine Pulu to make All Blacks Sevens debut". One News Now. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  5. "Pulu called up for All Blacks Sevens debut in Dubai". Retrieved 17 December 2015.
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