Nelson Mail

Young star lured to France

- Phillip Rollo phillip.rollo@stuff.co.nz

After talking it through with his parents and his agent, Tima Faingaanuk­u sought advice from Google. He wanted to be 100 per cent sure that he was making the right move by leaving New Zealand behind at 21.

It is not a well-travelled path for a young rugby player who aspires to play for the All Blacks, but, after missing out on a Crusaders contract, the promising Tasman wing wanted to challenge himself in a completely foreign environmen­t – one where he could continue his developmen­t as a profession­al player.

So, after reading up everything good about Perpignan on the internet, Faingaanuk­u came to a decision. He signed a oneyear deal with the Top 14 strugglers and moved into an apartment near the beach as it reminded him of his hometown, Nelson.

‘‘I came to a decision where I thought I may as well experience it because the Crusaders were full. I just wanted to be playing, being out there getting game time. It wasn’t because of the salary, I just wanted to challenge myself and to learn,’’ Faingaanuk­u said.

‘‘I sort of just realised that I’m still young, I’m only 21, and not many people come over here at a young age, especially when you’ve already been in the Super Rugby setup, you usually just stay. But I saw this as a chance to put myself in a real independen­t situation and, to be honest, I’ve been loving it so far.’’

Faingaanuk­u, a member of New Zealand’s World Rugby Under-20 Championsh­ip-winning squad in 2017 with three seasons of Mitre 10 Cup experience under his belt, said his dream has always been to play for the Crusaders and the All Blacks. But, despite ticking off the first goal when he made his Super Rugby debut against the Chiefs earlier in the year, he failed to secure a contract for next year.

Instead, coach Scott Robertson signed his younger brother, Leicester Faingaanuk­u.

‘‘I had a few offers but I was waiting for another Super Rugby crack with either a wider [training squad] or full contract but it just shows how hard it is to get in the Crusaders,’’ he said.

‘‘So I thought I’d come over and have a taste of footy on this side of the world. It was quite hard to leave New Zealand, especially leaving my family at quite a young age. But I saw this as a challenge for myself. It’s a challenge being alone and away from family and friends but I’m enjoying it so far.’’

Although he is enjoying the change of scenery, Faingaanuk­u said the language barrier has proven to be a challenge. He woke up hungry on the first day and didn’t know how to order breakfast. But he is slowly picking up the language and is even eating croissants and drinking espresso each morning like a local.

‘‘It’s a tough language to learn but I’ve challenged myself and I’ve got to the stage where I can order food, which is good because man it was tough at the start. Travelling, I’ve only been here four weeks and I’ve already been to Spain and Ireland and I’m going to a Barcelona game tonight.

‘‘One thing I’ve noticed here is

‘‘It wasn’t because of the salary, I just wanted to challenge myself and to learn.’’ Tima Faingaanuk­u

that it opens up your eyes a bit, being on this side of the world. There’s so much to do. You don’t realise how small New Zealand is.’’

Faingaanuk­u made his starting debut in a 22-10 defeat to Connacht on Sunday.

Seeing as his contract is just for one-year, Faingaanuk­u is not ruling out a return New Zealand in the future and he certainly has not given up on his All Blacks dream either. Wherever his career takes him next, he just hopes the experience with Perpignan will improve him as a player.

 ??  ?? Tasman wing Tima Faingaanuk­u dots down for a try against Otago.
Tasman wing Tima Faingaanuk­u dots down for a try against Otago.
 ??  ?? Tima Faingaanuk­u
Tima Faingaanuk­u
 ??  ??

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