Tony Tuimavave

Antonio (Tony) Emil Tuimavave is a Samoan former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s, who was the head coach of the Ponsonby Ponies from 2010, primarily as a prop also as a lock.[2] He was nicknamed The Chief because he is a chief back in his native Samoa.[4]

Tony Tuimavave
Personal information
Full nameAntonio Emil Tuimavave[1]
Born (1969-04-24) April 24, 1969
Apia, Western Samoa
Playing information
Height182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
PositionProp, Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Mount Albert Lions
Northcote Tigers
1991–92 Sheffield Eagles 21 13 0 2 54
1994 Waitakere City 6 0 0 1 1
1995–00 Auckland Warriors 78 9 0 0 36
Total 105 22 0 3 91
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1988–94 Auckland
1995 New Zealand 1 0 0 0 0
1990–97 Western Samoa 2 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3]

Playing career

Until the formation of the Auckland Warriors, Tony remained largely unheard off outside of the Auckland Scene. He played for the Mt Albert Lions and Northcote Tigers in the Auckland Rugby League competition. He was an Auckland rep from 1988 to 1994 playing over 30 matches for the province. In 1994 he played for the Waitakere City Raiders in the Lion Red Cup, and captained the Western Samoa tour of New Zealand.[5][6]

He was in the inaugural Warriors side in 1995 and remained a fixture in the squad until his retirement in 2000. He was the last of the inaugural team to leave the club.

Representative career

A Kiwi in 1995, Tuimavave also represented Western Samoa in the 1990 Pacific Cup, 1992 Pacific Cup, and at the 1995 World Cup.

Coaching career

In 2010 he was named the head coach of the Ponsonby Ponies in the Auckland Rugby League competition.[7]

Later years

After his retirement from rugby league he flirted with becoming a professional boxer, winning his only professional fight in 2001. He returned to play for the Mt Albert Lions in the Bartercard Cup in 2004.

He now runs a jet ski rental business in Apia, Western Samoa, and is involved in the grassroots of Samoan rugby league.[8]

Family

The Tuimavave family has a large presence in Auckland rugby league. He is Uncle to current players Evarn Tuimavave (Newcastle Knights), Carlos Tuimavave (Warriors) and Antonio Winterstein (Cowboys)[9] Chanel Tuimavave played alongside Tony for the Mt Albert Lions in the Bartercard Cup, Paddy Tuimavave played for the New Zealand national rugby league team and Western Samoa and Paki Tuimavave also represented Western Samoa.

References
  1. TUIMAVAVE, ANTHONO EMIL (TONY) 1995 - KIWI #663 Archived 2012-04-02 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
  2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. Chief back to his roots 12 March 2007
  5. Richard Becht. A New Breed Rising: The Warriors Winfield Cup Challenge. Auckland, HarperCollins, 1994. ISBN 1-86950-154-3 p.78.
  6. Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1994. p.50
  7. Morgan, Scott (12 February 2010). "Ponies rein in co-coaches for the long haul". Auckland City Harbour News. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  8. Business of the Week: Apia Jet Ski, Scooter and Car Rentals 26 March 2007 Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Tuimavave signs to stay a Warrior until 2009 June 18, 2006 Archived June 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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