The Tongan Thor re-commits to Rugby Australia on a long-term deal

Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou has put pen to paper on a new four-year deal with Rugby Australia and the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) to extend his stay at the Reds.

The ‘Tongan Thor’ will now remain on Australian shores until at least the end of the 2023 season, in a deal that secures his eligibility for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

The 23-year old first joined Queensland in 2014 and quickly established himself as a Super Rugby star, after taking home the Player of the Season at the 2018 Rugby Australia Awards.

Tupou was invited on the Wallabies 2016 Spring Tour as a Development Player before earning his first Test cap against Scotland at Murrayfield the following year.

“I’m very excited to sign for the next few years. Queensland and Australia offered me the first opportunity out of school and I feel I have more to do to repay that faith,” he said.

“I only started playing consistently in the last two or three years, so I think there’s still more for me to offer in Australia for the Reds and Wallabies.

“We have a really good young group in Queensland who have been working hard the last few years and I know we’re heading in the right direction.

“I love playing for Australia. Obviously growing up as a kid, watching them, and now being able to pull on the jersey is an honour. To know that I will be here for the next four years is exciting because it means I may have the opportunity to pull on the jersey again if I continue to work hard.”

Tupou grew up in Tonga but moved to Auckland to join Sacred Heart College on a scholarship in 2011 after touring New Zealand with a Tongan U14 side.

The tighthead prop has notched 14 Tests caps and two tries.

– Rugby Australia

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