Piutau and Luatua shun the All Blacks for a better life in England with mentor Pat Lam

Aside from the main airport, there are not many landmarks in the south Auckland suburb of Mangere, but the home of former heavyweight boxer David Tua’s parents stood out.

The grand two-storey building with its pillared entrance appeared incongruous among assorted churches and off-licences. A young Charles Piutau, who grew up a street away, walked past the house most days and remembers thinking: “That’s Tua’s house. If he can do it, then so can I. One day. One day.” Steven Luatua, who also lived close by, harbours similar memories.

Bound together through family — Luatua’s brother married Piutau’s sister — the pair have followed the same path in rugby, graduating from New Zealand age-grade sides to breaking through in the same season for the Blues. Finally, they made their debut together for the All Blacks against France in New Plymouth in 2013.

“For every kid who has ever chucked a ball around, that is the dream,” Piutau says. “It makes you feel so blessed. Not many players get to pull on that jersey. To do it alongside your best mate makes it even more special.”

But then that childhood dream ended. Both players missed out on New Zealand’s 2015 World Cup squad, with Piutau moving to Europe that year and Luatua following two years later, making them both ineligible for international selection.

This summer they reunited at Bristol Bears. Fullback Piutau joined from Ulster as the league’s highestpaid player and made his debut this month in the Premiership Rugby Cup against Gloucester.

Flanker Luatua had already spent a year dogging it out in the RFU Championship.

In New Zealand, their departures had left a sour taste, particularly as they were in the prime of their careers. Mercenaries and sell-outs were among the brickbats flung at the pair.

Money was clearly a driving factor in leaving the country of their birth, but to accuse either man of personal greed is to misunderstand their motivation or background.

As a result of being under a flight path, Mangere has some of the cheapest property in Auckland and hence a large immigrant community.

When Piutau’s father arrived from Tonga, he held down all manner of jobs, often at the same time: bar-

tender, factory worker, bouncer, taxi driver.

“He would leave first thing in the morning and get back last thing at night,” Piutau says. “Growing up seeing their work ethic and the choices they have made, it has helped shape me. They came to New Zealand to provide a better opportunity for us, so I want to repay them and make sure they are looked after.”

Luatua’s parents had come from Samoa, and took up jobs as couriers. In the school holidays, Luatua would jump in their van at 6am. “The good thing looking back now is that I know my way around Auckland,” Luatua says. It was not just their parents who provided for them, but their brothers and sisters, too. “When I was younger I did not really appreciate it, but my sisters and brothers always took the front foot in having to work on their holidays,” Luatua says. “It is not just my parents’ sacrifice.”

It seems no coincidence Piutau, as the youngest of 10 siblings, and Luatua, the youngest of five, were able to make it so far in professional rugby. “After school I was able to chase a dream,” Piutau says. “My older siblings did not have that opportunity. They paved the way for us.”

That is why they gave up the opportunity of wearing the silver fern and all the personal ambitions that came with it. But neither man simply went where the money was highest. They chose Bristol for a reason — head coach Pat Lam.

It was Lam who gave each player their Super Rugby debut at a struggling Blues franchise and it was Lam who sold his vision of “inspiring the victory through rugby success” at Bristol.

“No matter that we have come from different places, Pat has made us understand we are representing this city and jersey,” Luatua says. “We have to get to know the city, get to know the people and have pride in ourselves and the club.”

That involves learning from the core of Bristolians at the club.

Neither is looking back, even when the All Blacks were touring.

That path ended, but they are both several steps closer to making the fantasy of Tua’s house a reality.

“There are no would have, could have, should haves,” Luatua says.

“There are no guarantees in life. I am really happy at Bristol and stoked I can provide a more comfortable lifestyle for my family.”