Chris Tuatara-Morrison (born Chris Tuatara, 11 September 1986) is an Australian rugby union footballer. His regular playing position is inside-centre. He previously played for the Western Force in Super Rugby,[1] and currently plays in the French Top 14 league for Brive.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | Chris Tuatara 11 September 1986 Hastings, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 100 kg (15 st 10 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
editChris Tuatara was born in Hastings, New Zealand. He was raised by his mother Moana Tuatara and moved with her to Sydney, Australia, when he was a young boy. He did not know the identity of his father, Howard Morrison Jnr (son of the entertainer Sir Howard Morrison), until he was 13 years old. Later as an adult, Chris Tuatara changed his name to Chris Tuatara-Morrison.[2]
In Sydney, young Chris Tuatara played junior rugby league for the Asquith Magpies club. He played rugby union for Turramurra High School. During his final year at Turramurra in 2004, he was selected to represent New South Wales II at the Australian Schools Rugby Championships.[3]
Career
editRugby League
editIn 2005, Chris Tuatara played NSWRL Premier League for the North Sydney Bears (then affiliated with Melbourne Storm). For the following season, 2006, he was signed by NRL club Canterbury Bulldogs. He made two First Grade trial appearances against Cronulla Sharks and New Zealand Warriors and then played in the NSWRL Premier League for the Bulldogs.[1][4]
Chris Tuatara-Morrison then had several seasons in the New South Wales Cup. In 2008, he played for Balmain Ryde-Eastwood (affiliated with Wests Tigers). Then in 2009 and 2010, he played for Newtown Jets (affiliated with Sydney Roosters). In 2011, he played for Western Suburbs Magpies (affiliated with Wests Tigers).[4][5]
Rugby Union
editBetween rugby league seasons, Tuatara-Morrison had brief stints playing rugby union. He played some Shute Shield matches for Gordon in 2009 in Sydney. In 2011 in England he played for National 3 South West club Oxford Harlequins before his season was cut short with a broken foot.[1]
In 2012, Scott Fava, coach of Northern Suburbs Rugby Club, convinced Tuatara-Morrison to focus on playing rugby union. He turned down a contract with French rugby league club Catalans and his impressive performances for Northern Suburbs in the 2012 Shute Shield competition led to Super Rugby franchise Western Force signing him to a two-year contract until 2014.[1][4]
France
editTuatara signed a three-month deal with Castres Olympique in August 2014 as cover for injured former All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu,[6] before joining Brive in November 2014.
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Chris Tuatara-Morrison Western Force profile". Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- ^ Reid, Neil (14 November 2010). "Hero league star saves stricken man". Sunday News. Faifax. Archived from the original on 17 November 2010. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ "NSWSRU II XV 1972 – 2011" (PDF). NSW Schools Rugby Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ a b c Pandaram, Jamie (9 September 2012). "The Force is strong in SBW clone". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012.
- ^ "Chris Tuatara Profile". Newtown Jets. Archived from the original on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ "Western Force back Chris Tuatara-Morrison has signed a three month deal for French Top 14 side Castres". SBS. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.