Tupou Vaa'i

Tupou Vaatu Vaa'i (born 27 January 2000) is a New Zealand professional rugby union footballer who plays as a lock for the Taranaki Bulls in the Mitre 10 Cup and for the Chiefs in Super Rugby.[1]

Tupou Vaa'i
Full nameTupou Vaatu Vaa'i
Date of birth (2000-01-27) 27 January 2000
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height198 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight118 kg (260 lb; 18 st 8 lb)
SchoolWesley College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Taranaki, Chiefs
All Black No. 1188
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018– Taranaki 12 (20)
2020– Chiefs 7 (0)
Correct as of 10 December 2020
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019 New Zealand U20 6 (5)
2020 North Island 1 (0)
2020– New Zealand 4 (5)
Correct as of 10 December 2020

Career

In his youth career, he played in Wesley College first XV, captaining the team in his last year of school. Vaa'i went on to play for the top representative team in secondary school, and was selected to play in the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championships for New Zealand.

Vaa'i debuted for Taranaki as an 18-year-old against Auckland, in 2018[2] His Chiefs debut came in 2020, when the team was short on locks, having lost Michael Allardice and Laghlan McWhannell to season-ending injuries. Although Vaa'i was not originally contracted to the team at the start of 2020, he was promoted to a starting role following injury to Naitoa Ah Kuoi.[3] Vaa'i was one of the Chiefs' better performers in their winless Super Rugby Aotearoa season and was named in the North Island team, for New Zealand's 2020 North vs South rugby union match.[4]

In September 2020 Vaa'i was named in Ian Foster's first ever All Blacks squad.[5][6]

Vaa'i debuted for New Zealand on 11 October 2020, replacing Patrick Tuipulotu off the bench, in the 75th minute, in a 16-16 draw against Australia. The following week, with Sam Whitelock ruled out due to concussion symptoms, Vaa'i made his first start for New Zealand, with the All Blacks going on to beat Australia 27-7. Following Tuipolotu's illness ahead of Bledisloe IV a fortnight later, Vaa'i was restored to the matchday 23, accompanying debutants Will Jordan, Asafo Aumua, and Cullen Grace on the bench. He scored his debut test try shortly after coming on, in the 78th minute.

Statistics
ClubYearCompetitionGPGSTRYCONPENDGLPTSWL%
Taranaki 2018 Mitre 10 Cup
(incl. Ranfurly Shield)		 300000033.3300
2019 651000550.0000
2020† 3330001566.6700
Chiefs 2020 Super Rugby 75000000.0000
Career 191340002031.5800

Updated: 10 December 2020 Source: Tupou P O Vaa'i Rugby History

List of international test tries
TryDateVenueOpponentResultCompetition
1 6 November 2020 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia Australia 22–24 (Lost) 2020 Tri Nations Series

Updated: 10 December 2020 Source: Tupou P O Vaa'i Statsguru

References
  1. "21st-century sports stars: Five Kiwis just getting started on the international stage". Stuff. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  2. https://www.trfu.co.nz/newsarticle/68283
  3. https://www.rugbypass.com/news/unfortunately-for-the-chiefs-the-worlds-best-lock-has-his-feet-up-amidst-injury-crisis/
  4. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-squads-revealed-for-north-v-south-clash/VKTMVTZI3IG63G5YLSEAGPF5SU/
  5. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/122680536/from-building-fences-to-national-callup-tupou-vaai-becomes-the-first-all-black-born-in-the-2000s
  6. https://www.rugbypass.com/news/the-winners-and-losers-from-ian-fosters-first-ever-all-blacks-squad-announcement/
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