Antonio (Tony) Emil Tuimavave is a Samoan former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s, who was the head coach of the Ponsonby Ponies from 2010, primarily as a prop also as a lock.[2] He was nicknamed The Chief because he is a chief back in his native Samoa.[4]
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| Full name | Antonio Emil Tuimavave[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 April 1969 Apia, Western Samoa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (14 st 13 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop, Lock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Relatives | Paddy Tuimavave (brother) Paki Tuimavave (brother) Carlos Tuimavave (nephew) Evarn Tuimavave (nephew) Antonio Winterstein (nephew) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career
editUntil the formation of the Auckland Warriors, Tony remained largely unheard off outside of the Auckland Scene. He played for the Mt Albert Lions and Northcote Tigers in the Auckland Rugby League competition. He was an Auckland rep from 1988 to 1994 playing over 30 matches for the province. In 1994 he played for the Waitakere City Raiders in the Lion Red Cup, and captained the Western Samoa tour of New Zealand.[5][6]
He was in the inaugural Warriors side in 1995 and remained a fixture in the squad until his retirement in 2000. He was the last of the inaugural team to leave the club.[citation needed]
Representative career
editA Kiwi in 1995, Tuimavave also represented Western Samoa in the 1990 Pacific Cup, 1992 Pacific Cup, and at the 1995 World Cup.
Coaching career
editIn 2010, he was named the head coach of the Ponsonby Ponies in the Auckland Rugby League competition.[7]
Later years
editAfter his retirement from rugby league he flirted with becoming a professional boxer, winning his only professional fight in 2001. He returned to play for the Mt Albert Lions in the Bartercard Cup in 2004.
He now runs a jet ski rental business in Apia, Western Samoa, and is involved in the grassroots of Samoan rugby league.[8]
Family
editThe Tuimavave family has a large presence in Auckland rugby league. He is Uncle to current players Evarn Tuimavave (Newcastle Knights), Carlos Tuimavave (Warriors) and Antonio Winterstein (Cowboys)[9] Chanel Tuimavave played alongside Tony for the Mt Albert Lions in the Bartercard Cup, Paddy Tuimavave played for the New Zealand national rugby league team and Western Samoa and Paki Tuimavave also represented Western Samoa.
References
edit- ^ TUIMAVAVE, ANTHONO EMIL (TONY) 1995 - KIWI #663 Archived 2012-04-02 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
- ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ Chief back to his roots 12 March 2007
- ^ Richard Becht. A New Breed Rising: The Warriors Winfield Cup Challenge. Auckland, HarperCollins, 1994. ISBN 1-86950-154-3 p.78.
- ^ Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1994. p.50
- ^ Morgan, Scott (12 February 2010). "Ponies rein in co-coaches for the long haul". Auckland City Harbour News. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- ^ Business of the Week: Apia Jet Ski, Scooter and Car Rentals 26 March 2007 Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Tuimavave signs to stay a Warrior until 2009 18 June 2006 Archived 12 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine