Tufuga now a happy hooker
Going from the wing to the front row is not your usual conversion, but it was the best change Rebekah Tufuga ever made.
The barnstorming runner debuted as an 18-year-old wing for the Manawatu Cyclones two years ago, but after a year, she saw the light and converted into a hooker.
Now 20, she has forged a regular place in the rep side and trialled for New Zealand last year.
‘‘I had heaps of people telling me ‘eh you can’t do that because no-one does that’,’’ she said. ‘‘It was pretty hard trying to stay as a hooker when I had everyone saying no-one does that.
‘‘It was hard trying to please everyone, but it’s way better in the forwards. Coming from the wing getting no ball, to playing as a hooker, it’s awesome.’’
The former Freyberg High School student doesn’t mind the physicality of being a tight forward, but said she needs to work on her scrummaging technique.
She was selected for the Black Ferns tour of Canada last year, but got injured four days before the team went on tour and missed out.
Her and a friend were doing tackling practice and she injured her leg, getting a high ankle sprain, tearing the ligaments and tendons in her foot.
Tufuga returned to fitness for Manawatu’s national-title-winning sevens campaign over summer and is back to her best with club side Kia Toa and the Cyclones this year.
‘‘I’m still trying to learn a lot of stuff at that level playing as a hooker. I feel like my body is feeling fresh and good.
‘‘I just have to try and keep up my condition and try not to get injured really, that’s my goal.’’
She was gutted to miss out on the Black Ferns trip and is and said she wants to work hard to get recognised this season.
She works looking after children before and after school and, just to clear things up, she is not related to the four Tufuga brothers who play for Varsity.
Tufuga will come off the bench for the Cyclones when they play Wellington at the Arena on Saturday, Manawatu’s third game
in the Farah Palmer Cup, having had the bye last weekend.
Kahli Tipene, who is strong a set piece, will start at hooker, and Tufuga will give them an impact off the bench, although there is not much between the two.
Centre Crystal Mayes is now out for the rest of the season after getting pre-planned knee surgery last week, but has been replaced in the starting lineup by Shanna Porima, who will play second fiveeighth and Janna Vaughan will move out one to centre.
Manawatu lost to Wellington 34-0 last year, but won three years in a row before that.