Tongan Thor no Myth
Call him what you will, the ‘ Baby Rhino’ or the ‘ Tongan Thor.’ It matters not. But 18- year- old Sacred Heart tighthead prop Daniel ‘ Nella’ Tupou has caused a sensation this season. Not only had he scored 10 tries in eight 1A games for his school at the time of writing, but his televised hat- trick ( in the opening 20 minutes, no less) against Kelston in May has posted around a quarter of a million hits on YouTube. Two of the five- pointers were extraordinary efforts involving skill, speed and rugby nous. At 135kg, he is built like Ben Tameifuna, only faster.
After the match, when asked on TV whether he’d look good wearing the No 13 jersey instead of No 3, Tupou quipped: “I’d like to play centre, but I’m too big for centre!”
Incredibly, after a week when he became an internet sensation, Tupou recorded another hat- trick against Mt Albert Grammar, and at one stage had eight tries to his name in three and a half 1A games.
Those who have not seen him play are sceptical about his scrummaging and work- rate, as though he needs to be a perfectly well- rounded footballer right now. But the Sacred Heart scrum does not go backwards, and his range of skills and ability to shed would- be defenders means he can commit three to four defenders, opening up space for others elsewhere.
Tupou did make a cameo appearance for the Pacific Barbarians in their June match against Tonga in Auckland. He played the last 15 minutes... on the wing!
Now in the Blues Under 18s, Tupou’s future is the subject of much speculation. As it stands, he is not eligible for New Zealand Schools as he is not a New Zealand passport- holder. The man himself has been shielded from media attention, so we remain in the dark.
But New Zealand Rugby has not ruled out promoting him if he decides to remain in this country. “Players of interest” who are not eligible for national selection are on their radar, as they don’t want to lose potential stars. Malakai Fekitoa is an example of a player who, when at Wesley College in 2011, was not yet eligible for NZ Schools.