Ex-All Blacks star Charles Piutau opens up on imminent Tongan switch
Former All Blacks star Charles Piutau has lifted the lid behind his prospective switch of international allegiance from New Zealand to Tonga in the wake of World Rugby’s recently-amended eligibility laws.
Last week, it was announced by the game’s global governing body that internationally-capped players will be able to play for a second country that they are eligible through birthright, provided they stand down from test rugby for three years, from January 1.
The change in ruling has paved the way for numerous players to switch countries with immediate effect, with Samoa and Tonga standing as the teams with the most to gain from the overturned law.
Among the various former internationals of Samoan and Tongan background set to throw their lot in with the Pacific Island nations over the coming months is Piutau, who will, within a month’s time, become eligible for the ‘Ikale Tahi.
It’s been six years since the 30-year-old utility back played the last of his 17 tests for the All Blacks before leaving New Zealand at the age of just 23 to take up a lucrative contract with English Premiership side Wasps after having missed selection for the 2015 World Cup.
Since then, Piutau has established himself as one of the best players in European club rugby, as reflected by his status as the world’s equal-highest-paid player alongside Springboks playmaker Handre Pollard.
Both players reportedly earn £1 million per season, with Piutau the first to become rugby’s million-pound player when he signed with his current side Bristol Bears in 2018 following a series of compelling displays throughout the European domestic scene.
Prior to joining Pat Lam’s squad, Piutau was named 2015-16 Premiership Player of the Season during his time with Wasps and was crowned PRO12 (now known as the United Rugby Championship) Players’ Player of the Season a year later in his debut campaign for Ulster.
He was also included in both the the 2015-16 Premiership Team of the Season and the 2016-17 PRO12 Team of the Season, and continued that vein of form when he began his spell in Bristol three years ago.
Selected in back-to-back Premiership Teams of the Season for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns, Piutau helped guide Bristol to its first European honour as the Bears claimed the second-tier Challenge Cup last year.
Piutau achieved all of this while remaining ineligible for the All Blacks as he plied his trade outside of New Zealand, leaving the world deprived of viewing his exceptional talents on the global stage.
That’s set to change, though, as World Rugby’s new laws means Piutau will become available to play for Tonga, his parents’ nation of birth, from New Year’s Day.
Blues head coach Leon MacDonald says competing with Moana Pasifika for players has become “an issue” due to the depletion of New Zealand’s player pool. #Blues #MoanaPasifika #SuperRugbyPacific https://t.co/z9RoJzLxfh
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 3, 2021
Jumping ship from New Zealand to Tonga is an emotional prospect for Piutau, as it will be for other players in a similar position to him.
His brother Siale played in 43 tests and at three World Cups for the ‘Ikale Tahi, and the chance to follow in his sibling’s footsteps and honour his heritage is something that Charles hasn’t shied away from.
“It’s always been a place close to my heart. My family were happy about the news and personally I’m happy that if I’m selected I can give back to Tonga,” Piutau said, as per the Daily Mail.
The presence of Piutau in the Tongan squad would be a significant boost for head coach Toutai Kefu, who is also set to welcome a large swathe of former internationals next year, including the likes of Israel Folau and Malakai Fekitoa.
Those players – and others such as former All Blacks Vaea Fifita, George Moala and Augustine Pulu, as well as ex-Wallabies Adam Coleman and Sekope Kepu – could make Tonga a seriously competitive unit come the 2023 World Cup in France.
It is partly for that reason that Piutau is keen on playing for Tonga as he hopes to help form his parents’ homeland into a team capable of taking down some of rugby’s biggest nations.
That chance is likely to come at the next World Cup should Tonga claim the Asia/Pacific berth next year, which would see them qualify for Pool B alongside the Springboks, Ireland and Scotland.
“This change is a start. It’s not the only or the main thing, there are many others, but it’s a step towards being able to bridge the gap between the tier one nations,” Piutau said, according to the Daily Mail.
“With the possible players that may be available, it’s them being able to share their experience and knowledge can add to what’s already there.
“If I can pull on the Tonga jersey it’ll definitely be a memory I’ll cherish. I’m happy not only for myself but for the possibilities of what it can do for Pacific nations.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Big difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to comments