Taumalolo to leave Chiefs

Taumalolo to leave Chiefs

8 Jun 2012

Prop Sona Taumalolo has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Perpignan and will be leaving the Chiefs at the end of the Super Rugby season.

Taumalolo has scored eight tries for the Chiefs this year, his robust ball carrying proving especially difficult to stop five metres from the tryline. He is, however, hoping to improve his scrumming once he joins the French club.

The 30-year-old was left out of the All Blacks’ wider training group selected in May and doesn’t appear to be in coach Steve Hansen’s plans.


11 Comments

  • 1.pompies2: Reply to this comment
    8 Jun 2012, 09:58 am

    If i’m not mistaken, Taumalolo is Tongan, so is ineligible to play for the All Blacks. He played for Tonga in last year’s RWC.

  • 2.Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters. Stormers support England.: Reply to this comment
    8 Jun 2012, 10:04 am

    At 30 he is looking for some serious bucks overseas before he gets too ‘old’. He knows he is wasting his time in New Zealand so a good move in terms of his future.

  • 3.ShaunMichaels: Reply to this comment
    8 Jun 2012, 10:43 am

    @pompies2(pompies2)-1: You are quite right. He isnt eligible for New Zealand. He’s cashing out as most players do at 30.

  • 4.SKW: Reply to this comment
    8 Jun 2012, 10:44 am

    maybe he wasnt selected for AB’s because he is a tongan international!

  • 5.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    8 Jun 2012, 10:59 am

    He’ll earn some serious dosh in Tongan terms in 3 years as a prop-forward in France

  • 6.STBUR: Reply to this comment
    8 Jun 2012, 11:26 am

    Big loss for the Chiefs though.

  • 7.thesaint: Reply to this comment
    8 Jun 2012, 12:04 pm

    You have to wonder about the quality of the reporting if they don’t even know that someone is ineligible for NZ…

    The guy almost brought France to a halt in the World Cup for Tonga, but I guess the red jersey he wore wasn’t enough of a clue for these journo’s…

  • 8.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    8 Jun 2012, 18:50 pm

    He was born in Tonga, raised in Auckland from the age 3. Played representative rugby or NZ in the junior grades, then went to Japan before coming back to NZ to play for Hawkes Bay, Chiefs, Tonga.

    Best try scoring prop since Kees Meeuws.

  • 9.viewer: Reply to this comment
    8 Jun 2012, 19:09 pm

    factual error. wow

  • 10.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    8 Jun 2012, 20:51 pm

    Wow jc seriously! Shocking. Best loosehead prop in the world currently.

  • 11.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    9 Jun 2012, 07:20 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-10:

    Wouldn’t go that far :P I wouldn’t have him near the best, definitely behind Tony Woodcock, Ben Alexander, Benn Robinson & a few SA loose-heads who are better all-round players. Then gotta look at Europe where they have many talented players. Cian Healy & our very own Heinke van der Merwe, both whom I’d rate above Taumalolo playing for one team.

    He’s definitely entertaining to watch though.

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