Reds 2015

[Train Without a Station]

A couple of refreshing quotes from his brother too:

“If things don’t work out for him in rugby, what can he do in New Zealand? He is better off in Australia where I can help him get a job.

“New Zealand has more rugby opportunities, but Australia has more work and opportunities, and I need to look after my little brother.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/w...ect-to-australia/story-e6frf55l-1227051890943

 

[Train Without a Station]

Well if JOC (James O'Connor) demands it..it must be done.

Might be one of the KPI's he's set.

 

[Bobby Sands]

This bloke is our answer to Kellaway.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/...rth-harbour-rays/story-fndpt9s1-1227055134900

 

[Bobby Sands]

Can RG do this for us?

 

[Braveheart81]

 

[qwerty51]

Huuuuge. This might've been the Silverfern hint in the video??

 

[RugbyReg]

wow.

So many questions.

well not so many, and I guess we will have the answer soon enough, but is he just in the mythical EPS or main squad? I hope the former.

 

[Wilson]

Outstanding

 

[Deputy Van Halen]

Great news, clearly there is some potential there if he was the first unsigned kid the NZRU ever offered a top up.

Surely it should be an EPS spot though, chucking him in super scrum this early may be very detrimental to his career. For all we know he could end up in the backrow or become Jonah 2.0 with a bit of development.

 

[RugbyReg]

up on the Daily Tele site now.

A couple of key points:

Tongan-born Tupou has not played any representative rugby, which still makes him eligible for any nation.

so does that mean he is not a foreign development player?

If the schoolboy joins Queensland, he would do so on a club contract and will probably be eased through their extended playing squad system from 2016.

club contract? You think like Sunnybank? Sounds like it. Let the club fighting begin!

So he will be outside the 32/35/whatever next year.

 

[Braveheart81]

He wouldn't be eligible for Australia immediately though.

I thought a foreign development player was one who could eventually become Wallaby eligible.

I.e. Speight used to be one. Taulagi was one in 2014 but will become eligible in the next year or so.

 

[Bobby Sands]

So much detail to come out in the wash, incredibly exciting development.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

BUT CAN HE SCRUMMAGE?

 

[qwerty51]

BUT CAN HE SCRUMMAGE?

no one would know, schoolboy scrums even relatively are a joke.

 

[Jeeper]

He has the size, if he has the commitment and dedication he can certainly learn to scrummage/

 

[FilthRugby]

When I first heard of this signing, I was a bit cynical to be honest. I mean going from schoolboy rugby to Super XV is an enormous step.

However, being chased by "four countries and two rival Australian franchises" really does demonstrate his ability and potential. So now I am absolutely all for it. I commend the Reds for signing him.

On a side note: I honestly think getting hit by a bus would be less painful or nauseating compared to coming off second best to him.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Wonder what his motor is, 4cyl, 6cyl, 8cyl or V12

 

[Godfrey]

I don't think it says anywhere in the rules that playing prop as a schoolboy means you play it as a senior. He might just make a good number 8 or, as whomever gave the example of Lomu indicated, a winger. Who knows. What we do know is he's a big bastard that has run over a few people (and twirled around a couple too). That's good enough for now.

 

[Bobby Sands]

Think of the collateral damage of training with the bloke! He might have to be kept in his own pen.

 

[TOCC]

Whether he works out or not, it's great that Australian Rugby is able to capture promising young players like this like this.. He has the raw physical attribute of a good forward, let's just hope they can refine them into making him a good scrummager now.

As for New Zealand #sorrynotsorry