Cyclone hits close to home for Tupou

RUGBY UNION “OUR house is gone”.

With those emotional words, Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou began his prayers for his large family in Tonga caught in the destructive path of Cyclone Gita.

The Category 4 cyclone unleashed winds of more than 200km/h across the Pacific island, where the Government declared a state of emergency on Monday.

Tupou is preparing to play a trial for the Queensland Reds against a Fijian XV at Ballymore tomorrow but his heart is with his family in Tonga.

Tupou’s mother Loisi and family live in a tiny village outside the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa and he had heard of the devastation in his homeland even before the full force of the cyclone hit.

“Just got off the phone with my brother from Tonga. Our house is gone already and the cyclone is not even there yet,” Tupou posted on his Instagram account on Monday night.

“Not exactly what I wanted to hear but much love to all my Fams back home. “Stay safe errbody.” With power out in Tonga, Tupou was yesterday waiting anxiously for an update on his family and damage reports.

The Reds will start shaping their Super Rugby lineup in the 7pm trial against the Fijian XV with Hamish Stewart and new signing Jono Lance certain to share time at flyhalf.

At fullback, Aidan Toua will get substantial time after finalising a contract with the club last weekend.

Wallaby Karmichael Hunt’s future remains unresolved, with his next court appearance scheduled for Monday.