The ex-All Blacks Sevens and NZ U20s flyer waiting in the wings for Blues
Caleb Tangitau may have only just turned 21 but he’s already lived out some incredible rugby dreams that have come as a welcomed surprise to the young man himself.
Every rugby player starts out as a kid with a dream. Tangitau’s “big rugby head” father introduced the youngster to the sport at just four years of age and he hasn’t looked back since.
Tangitau has represented New Zealand at senior level on the sevens circuit and with the ‘Baby Blacks’ at the World Rugby U20s Championship, and that’s not even everything.
This is the story of a young man with a dream and a burning passion to both play and compete with some genuine superstars of the game, including some world-class All Blacks.
“They’re your dreams but you don’t actually think that it’s gonna happen,” Tangitau told RugbyPass earlier this month. “It all just happened so quickly. (I’m) grateful for it.”
After starring in the prestigious Westlake Boys High School First XV on Auckland’s North Shore, the rising star was given the opportunity to don the black jersey on the international stage.
Tangitau hadn’t played much sevens until his final year of high school at Westlake. But after starring with the New Zealand Condor sevens team in 2020, the All Blacks Sevens came knocking.
The then-teenager was offered the chance to trial with the star-studded New Zealand side and was later given a contract to join the likes of Sam Dickson and Joe Webber in the squad on a full-time deal.
Tangitau was starstruck but confident; excited and hungry. But the young Kiwi with a dream was just hopeful of eventually playing “one tournament” for the All Blacks Sevens.
Tangitau did a bit more than that.
As a Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens medallist, and doing so before his 20th birthday, the former SVNS flyer described the experience as both “pretty crazy” and “unreal.”
“Me and my dad used to watch sevens a lot when I was little so I’d see like Tim Mikkelson and those sort of players were playing,” Tangitau explained.
“Me and my dad had talks say, ‘Would you do sevens if it came?’ I’d be like, ‘Oh I don’t really know.’ I’d never really played sevens until my last year of high school so we didn’t really think it was on the table for me.
“Luckily played schools sevens for NZ and then the year after, so my first year out of school, they asked me to come in for a couple of weeks just as a trial sort of thing.
“It all sort of happened so fast,” he added. “I was just looking at it like, ‘Hey, if I don’t play the best I’m still young.’ I went in with that mindset… I can keep growing. I don’t really feel too much pressure, luckily.”
Caleb Tangitau making it look easy @Dubai7s 😮#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSDXB pic.twitter.com/4um9IRdDgB
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) November 22, 2023
Tangitau became a regular with the New Zealanders on the now-called SVNS Series. While the Olympics is an option for rugby players nowadays, the speedster has ventured in another direction.
The New Zealander has gone all-in on the 15-player game.
Selected as part of the New Zealand squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa last year, Tangitau was more than impressive in the black jersey.
Playing alongside other promising prospects in Aotearoa, including the likes of Macca Springer and Noah Hotham, the winger scored five tries in four matches.
“That team is full of great players. I just thought we didn’t quite have quite enough time as a group to do well. Definitely think we had the players,” he said.
“The experience was cool as. Just to match up against other players around the world my age just to see where I’m at, am I better than these guys?
“It was a cool experience. I think we were away for seven weeks all up. It was fun though, it was cool. Just an amazing experience.”
It was during last year’s National Provincial Championship season that Tangitau, along with his mum and agent, decided to charge ahead with rugby’s more traditional format.
While the Olympics in Paris were just around the corner, the opportunity to make his mark in a talented squad with the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific proved too good to turn down.
It was a tough decision but one that Tangitau seemed comfortable with.
From ➡️ to ⬅️ in no time@nz_sevens strike first through Caleb Tangitau…#Dubai7s | #HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/heZPaGDDJt
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) December 3, 2022
“It would have been at the end of NPC last year where we had no clue what I was going to do,” the Auckland outside back revealed.
“We just thought it was the best thing for my future to stay with the Blues. It was real tough.”
When Tangitau spoke with RugbyPass one afternoon earlier this month, the speedster had just gotten home from Blues training.
Joining the youngster at those sessions are genuine A-listers in the world of rugby union, including All Blacks Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Dalton Papali’i and more.
“That’s another crazy thing. I thought I was starstruck going to Tim Mikkelson and stuff and then I came over to the Blues and I’m looking at my inside and it’s Rieko (Ioane) defending with me.
“As a young guy watching that, it’s crazy. But then you see they’re just regular dudes seeing if I need help and all that sort of stuff.
“I’m sort of used to it now.”
The Blues wing has only played one Super Rugby match. Tangitau was named to come off the pine away to the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park on April 4 last year.
It’s been a while since, but Tangitau has continued to chip away behind the scenes – working hard for another opportunity.
Tangitau impressed during the Blues’ pre-season trip to Japan, and the former New Zealand U20s representative also crossed for a five-pointer in the 38-24 win over the Chiefs in Takapuna.
But until another opportunity comes, the winger is focused on working away behind the scenes and learning from a fairly handy mentor and friend in All Black Caleb Clarke.
“If I had to choose someone it’d probably be Caleb, Caleb Clarke,” he added when asked if any All Blacks had taken him under their wing.
“I’ve gotten pretty close with him. When we went over to Japan he was my roomie for the two weeks so we’ve always had those little talks, asking if I need help. Also when I made my debut he was my roomie as well.
“We’ve gotten pretty close so I’m lucky to learn from him as an All Black.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig 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!
5 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 …
33 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
4 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.
5 Go to comments