Tukupa-Ke Taa’i Hau Tapuha (born 10 December 2001) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL.
 Hau Tapuha playing for Newtown Jets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Tukupa-Ke Taa’i Hau Tapuha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 10 December 2001 Pukekohe, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 114 kg (17 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 19 August 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
editHau Tapuha was born in Pukekohe and is of Māori & Tongan descent.[2] He moved to Brisbane when was 11-years-old.[3] He played his first junior rugby league for Pine Central Holy Spirit and then Valleys Diehards when he was 14.
Hau Tapuha attended Wavell State High School and represented the Queensland Schoolboys side before being signed by the Sydney Roosters.[4][5]
Playing career
editEarly career
editIn 2015, Hau Tapuha represented the Brisbane Stingers under-14 side while playing for Valleys.[6] In 2018, he played for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Mal Meninga Cup.[7][8]
In 2019, Hau Tapuha moved to Sydney, playing for the Roosters SG Ball Cup side.[9] In 2020, he moved up to the club's Jersey Flegg Cup side.[10] On 15 December 2020, he re-signed with the Roosters until the end of the 2022 season.[11]
2021
edit
Hau Tapuha began the 2021 season playing for North Sydney in the NSW Cup.[12]
In round 9 of the 2021 NRL season, Hau Tapuha made his first grade debut for the Sydney Roosters against Parramatta.[13]
2024
editIn round 2 of the 2024 NRL season, Hau Tapuha made his club debut for Cronulla in their 25-6 victory over Canterbury.[14] He played ten games for the club throughout the season as they finished 4th on the table and qualified for the finals.[15] On 29 September, he played for Newtown in their 2024 NSW Cup Grand Final victory over North Sydney.[16]
References
edit- ^ Rugby League Project
- ^ "Tuku Hau Tapuha".
- ^ "Hau Tapuha hoping for a Sharks attack at his former home". NRL. 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Queensland team named after 18 Years schoolboys carnival". qrl.com.au. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Wavell SHS forwards Tuku Hau Tapuha and Jayden Clarkson make Queensland schoolboys". Sydney Roosters. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "SEQ Division Hill Stumer Championships". Docplayer.net. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "QRL Mal Meninga Cup - 2018 Round 1". League Unlimited. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Mustangs chase more success in Mal Meninga Cup". qrl.com.au. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "2019 NSWRL Junior Representative Squads". League Unlimited. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Flegg Debut, S.G. Ball Return". Sydney Roosters. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Drew Hutchison, Naufahu Whyte and Tuku Hau Tapuha re-commit". Sydney Roosters. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Pathways Squads Named to Take On Sea Eagles". Sydney Roosters. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Round 9 NRL team lists". NRL.com. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Sharks fire 'warning shot' with statement win in chaotic clash with Bulldogs". www.foxsports.com.au.
- ^ "The Mole's end of season review: Awkward Sharks puzzle laid bare after $1m star 'lost his way'". www.nine.com.au.
- ^ "Newtown wins Premiership number nine". www.nswrl.com.au.