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Siale Piutau played his heart out for Bristol last Saturday despite a devastating family bereavement
Bristol were beaten by Bath in The Clash last Saturday at Twickenham, but one of their players demonstrated inspiring character to take the field and play his part.
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Midfielder Siale Piutau only learned hours earlier that his sister Ema, a defence lawyer from Auckland, had died following a short illness.
However, rather than pull out of the Premiership match, the Bears co-captain insisted on playing in front of a crowd of 60,000 that included his currently injured brother Charles.
Pat Lam was stoked by Piutau’s courageous show of commitment, telling the Bristol Post: “We had the sad news of Siale and Charles losing their beloved sister the day of the game.
“Straight away when I saw him the morning of the game I gave him the option to pull out of the game, but he said no. He was determined to play that game, so he played.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwAyAGNHrLT/
“That is why Siale is one of our leaders, he is a captain. Both of them [Siale and Charles] are quality people but certainly Siale is a real leader and team man. Both of them see this team as their family away from their family. We had enough cover to step up but he wanted to play.
“Charles and the rest of the family came up to support him and the rest of the team, so I spoke with him then. They will both head back home [to Auckland] for the funeral this week, back home with all their family. Our condolences, best wish and prayers are with the Piutau family.”
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My thoughts are with the Piutau family at this time #BristolBears #TogetherasOne #RugbyUnited #RugbyFamily #CmonBris https://t.co/s4dFgd53TJ
— John Evely (@JohnEvely_BPost) April 9, 2019
The 33-year-old Tongan International captain, along with 27-year-old Charles, hail from a family of five brothers and five sisters reared in Auckland by their taxi driver father Manako and rest-home nurse mother Melenaite.
Neither of the Piutau brothers will be involved in Bristol’s next match, Saturday’s league tussle with Saracens. “Once we knew when the funeral was we made plans. Pacific Island weddings are Friday, Saturday and then different services on the Sunday, so they will get down for that then get back,” explained Lam.
“They should be back early the following week. We don’t have a game that week, we have Premiership Rugby Shield game against Bath but he will not be involved – Siale has had a lot of rugby.
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“Charles is able to continue his recovery while he is away. The medical team and S&C team gave him his programme and there are people down there able to help him out with that. He is coming along quite nicely. He is on track and going well, I can guarantee he will be playing before the end of the season.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments