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'Writing was on the wall': Force recruit reveals why he left New Zealand
Western Force recruit Chase Tiatia has opened up about his stunning move across the ditch ahead of this year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
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Boasting an impressive skillset and knowledge of the sport, Tiatia was a familiar face in the New Zealand Rugby provincial scene for almost a decade.
After making his debut for Wellington in 2014 at just 19 years of age, he went on to play for both Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay.
The utility back even won the Duane Monkley Medal (provincial player-of-the-year) in 2019 after a stellar NPC campaign.
But Tiatia was unable to make his mark at Super Rugby level, as he struggled to cement his place in the starting XV at both the Chiefs and Hurricanes.
Tiatia made his Chiefs debut against the British and Irish Lions in 2017, but couldn’t force his way into Dave Rennie’s matchday squad.
Searching for his Super Rugy debut, the fullback decided to move south to the capital, where he embodied the term ‘impact player.’
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But the Lower Hutt-born talent later returned to Hamilton after requesting an early release from the Hurricanes.
However, after playing in 21 matches over two seasons, the 27-year-old believed that it was time for him to move on.
“I’m getting a little bit on now. Everyone my age is heading up overseas,” Tiatia told RugbyPass.
“The writing was on the wall at the Chiefs, there’s a lot of young guys coming through, Damian McKenzie coming back.
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“I didn’t really want to play for any other New Zealand franchise for the season this year.”
Western Force assistant coach Mark Ozich played a crucial role in Tiatia’s decision to head across the Tasman.
The former Hawke’s Bay head coach tried to sign Tiatia “for a few years”, and remained interested in acquiring his services after moving to Perth.
“I got hit up by Mark Ozich. He chased me from Bay of Plenty for a few years, trying to get me to Hawke’s Bay,” he added.
“He finally moved over here and asked me what I was doing, if I was interested, if I was keen.
“(Simon Cron) Crono and (Matt Hodgson) Hodgo started to chat to me and asked me if I was keen and showed me a plan for the next couple of years.
“I thought I’d be a good addition to the team. I agreed with what they were saying and liked the plan they have in store for the Force.
“Hopefully in the next couple of years we’re at the top, if not winning championships.”
The Western Force missed out on the playoffs last season by the barest of margins.
Points difference proved to be the determining factor in their pursuit of finals football, as the Highlanders finished the regular season in eighth place instead.
But Tiatia, who started at fullback in the Force’s preseason clash with Fijian Drua, has promised supporters that they’ll “definitely be in the playoffs.”
“We’ll definitely be in the playoffs this year.
“From the management, coaching staff, physios, doctors, all the way through to our academy boys coming through, they’ve put a good template in place and the boys are working really hard to achieve the goals that they want to achieve this year.
“That’s a promise for the people in Perth.”
The Western Force kick off their Super Rugby Pacific season against rivals the Melbourne Rebels on February 25.
Comments on RugbyPass
I dunno, Ben. It does feel a little like you are just in denial that the Springboks are really good. Good enough to win two straight world cups.
5 Go to commentsAre we still talking about the World Cup final in May? The final took place more than 6 months ago. Isn’t it time to move on?
5 Go to commentsIt looks like the trauma counseling is not helping the Ben Smith troll much. He is still trying to convince his little brain that his loser team won the RWC.
5 Go to commentsOh dear, Jon. Ben Smith’s Saffer clickbait was at least backed up by some rationale!
5 Go to commentsThe more direct approach to your past time this time I see Ben. Look, it doesn’t need to be said, anyone watching the match knows the ABs played better and just got robbed by the officiating, but lets face it, their dominance in the match was only because South Africa choked and forgot how to play rugby with the ball. South Africa were still the better side. Of course Ireland and France were also better sides that New Zealand. Possibly even England on WC performances.
5 Go to commentsGreat mythology - no surprises Ox didn't talk about being driven backwards by Laulala in the RWC final!
4 Go to commentsJust shows how a hand up can help as long as the invitation is accepted. Good story.
1 Go to commentsKarma is a powerful force
21 Go to commentsFrench players said the same thing to the All Blacks after their pool match in 2011. But the French can back up their s**t talk with action.
67 Go to commentsThe problem is the officiating & changing rulings,& TMOs.Last weekend I saw a 9 penalized for a crooked scrum feed! the last time I saw that rule applied was In about 1975!!!!!!!!.Late or not the incident is history & Australians alleging that Kiwi rugby supporters wear eye patches is a bit rich.Try listening to Australian Commentators.Every new player who has an above average game is suddenly the next great sensation.
21 Go to commentsEvery Irish fan in the stadium celebrated like they had won the tournament after the SA and Scotland games so yeah, the way Etzebeth tells it stacks up. It was definitely ‘In Their Heads’!
67 Go to commentsEtsebeth is right about 1 thing. Boks after winning a RWC have been crap. Only in 2009 did they reach the heights of what a RWC Champion should look like but that was only after 3rd/last in the TriN 2008. Lost a home series in 1996 (vs ABs); didnt win even 1 x Rugby Championship after 2019. ABs and Wallabies and England at least played like Champions after winning RWC.
67 Go to commentsCrusaders will knock one of the top seeds out in the first round, hope it’s not my Chiefs
28 Go to commentsEben really seems like just a deeply unpleasant man.
67 Go to commentsDMac. BB crabs too much at 10.
4 Go to commentsIt is every boys dream to be a Springbok. I managed it in a discipline other than rugby…But rugby, I have always engaged with passion. It does my old heart good to see the mix of people in the team and this displays the possibilities for this wonderful country. The logo “stronger together” says it all. This current edition of the Boks is nothing short of inspirational.
4 Go to commentsIrish people about the best damn people on the planet. OK, in the NH. Fijians are the World’s best happiest friendliest people. But as far as European cultures producing good people, Ireland stands alone. But on the rugby pitch there is a creeping arrogance that has detached from humility. eg Sexton abusing a match referee, and not for the 1st time. He was extremely lucky to make it to the RWC, strings were pulled. And O’Mahoneys sledge to Cane was lowballing, attacking an opposition Captain seems opportunistic and gutter talk. Cane is a real gentleman. Have never seen ABs unleash after the whistle like they did on O’Mahoney after QterF, it was well deserved. Unlike Bok supporters, the Bok players understand history. Massive amount of respect between Boks and ABs is evident, they get on well and have throughout history. Even Pinetree Meads best mate (except his old cobber Kel Tremain) were Springboks, friendships forged after tours. And Meads was always targetted given his star status (he even played 2 x Tests with a broken arm). On the contrary, ABs and Wallabies famously dont get on, bad blood after Aussies not taking offer of beersies postmatch.
67 Go to commentsHaha god NZ journalism is so crap listen to this guy “We’ll be proven in a few weeks if our baseless bs can stick” lol Everywhere else uses experts to write stuff but here they’re just career guys that don’t care about what they write, NOT CONCEDED A TRY IN YEARS lol > “Naturally, you’re looking for performance, sometimes that means you can’t think logically or use evidence to arrive at any sort of clarity of decision. Pretty much sums it up to a tee Paul ignores the articles in here about then runs off each team this year, that Penney is just a yearly stop gap until, who, Ellison is released by ABs, the huge imbalance of the injury front between teams at each end of the table, or who it was that _should_ have been coach. But of course if they actually do evidence and investigative work theyre shy of their article not hitting that sensationalism boundary and lose revenue. Leaving us non the wiser. They look like they would have been best with a geeup coach this year to turn around the razorless depression the clubs obviously going through. Hard to think of someone fitting the Bill to have been chosen instead, the clown Cheika? Id have been tempted to double play and entice O’Gara down. Hell maybe that is who they are waiting for, he wants a international gig and it could be after Scmidt or razor
28 Go to comments_Dan Carter weighs in on who should be Scott Robertson's All Black 10_ Dan: “It’s a toss up between Beudy and Dmac, although Mounga would be nice - but he can’t… so…” The Rugby Public: “Thanks Dan. For nuthin!”
4 Go to commentsEngland did this way back for the Croke Park match in the 2000’s. The shame actually seemed to weigh on them during the match. It will not be easy for Northhampton players to rationalize how their army went into a stadium of a major city of the then United Kingdom and opened fire indiscriminantly into terraces killed 14 and wounding scores. I am sure with a pro setup they will get this balance right. I live beside the stadium. A very old woman on the street remembers as a very young girl the crowds of people filling the street to escape the massacre. A lot of water under the bridge and the match has really little historical relevance for Irish/Leinster supporters any more. Those ghosts were freed in the trashing of England in the 2000’s match. Sure, it will motivate Leinster but Northhampton should not overly consider it or weigh on it in my opinion. Dowson is right to learn the historical importance and Northhampton are indeed giving the occasion due respect. It is important to show respect. But that’s enough for Northhampton. Fair play to them. On to the rugby now.
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