Sam Tuitupou

Sam Tuitupou (born 1 February 1982) is a New Zealand international rugby union player who plays for Coventry in the English National One league. His position is Inside Centre.

Sam Tuitupou
Tuitupou, September 2008
Full nameSamual Tuitupou
Date of birth (1982-02-01) 1 February 1982
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight93 kg (205 lb; 14 st 9 lb)
SchoolKelston Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing
Current team Coventry
All Black No. 1040
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2002–2007 Auckland 51 (70)
2003–2007 Blues 38 (40)
2006 Chiefs 13 (20)
2007–2010 Worcester Warriors 54 (70)
2010–2011 Munster 19 (10)
2011–2017 Sale Sharks 111 (60)
2018– Coventry 12 (15)
Correct as of 27 May 2020
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2001–2003 New Zealand U21 12 (17)
2004–2006 New Zealand 9 (5)
2007 Junior All Blacks 3 (0)
Correct as of 27 May 2020

Tuitupou won world titles as captain for New Zealand at under-19 and under-21 level, during his junior career. In his senior career he achieved two Air New Zealand Cup titles, with Auckland and in the Super 14 championship with the Blues. Tuitupou also won acclaim on the international stage with his first All Blacks call-up for the clash with England at Dunedin in 2004. He played for the All Blacks between 2004 and 2006, earning nine caps.

In 2007 he signed a contract with Worcester Warriors, and left New Zealand rugby to join his new team after the completion of the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup. His contract with Worcester kept him at Sixways until June 2010. Tuitopou moved to Munster for the 2010–11 season, replacing Jean de Villiers as Munster's inside centre. Shortly after gaining his first team place he was banned for three weeks after a spear tackle on Paul Hodgson during Munster's Heineken Cup pool game against London Irish.[1][2] In his short time at Munster, he became a fan favourite, being awarded the nickname "Hacksaw Sam" by the Munster supporters. On 5 April 2011, Munster rugby announced that he would be leaving Munster at the end of the current season.[3] On 11 April 2011, Sale Sharks announced that Tuitupou had signed for two-years from the 2011–12 English Premiership season.[4] On 25 April 2017, Coventry RFC announced that Tuitupou had signed for two-years from the 2017–18 English National League 1 season.[5]

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 November 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/7661.php
  3. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/8889.php
  4. http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/sharks-sign-tuitupou-from-munster-500777.html#ixzz1JCXb08Yh
  5. http://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/2017/04/25/cov-welcome-all-black-sam/


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