Patrick Tuifua
| Date of birth | 25 August 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | New Caledonia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 113 kg (249 lb; 17 st 11 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Lindisfarne College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Laurent Simutoga (uncle) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Patrick Tuifua (born 25 August 2004) is a French rugby union player,[1] who currently plays as a loose forward for Toulon in the French Top 14.[2] He previously played for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition.[3][4]
Early life
Born in New Caledonia, a French territory in the Pacific Ocean, Tuifua moved to New Zealand in 2020 at the age of 15 years-old and attended Lindisfarne College on a scholarship.[5]
Senior career
Tuifua played for Hawke's Bay in the National Provincial Championship in 2023 and 2024, and has represented the Hurricanes at age-grade level.[6][7]
In April 2025, Top 14 club Toulon announced that Tuifua had signed a three-year deal with the club, starting from the 2025–26 season.[8][2]
International career
Tuifua played for France U20 at the 2024 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[9]
Personal life
Tuifua is the nephew of former rugby union player Laurent Simutoga.[10]
References
- ^ "Patrick Tuifua". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Patrick Tuifua s'engage avec le Rugby Club Toulonnais jusqu'en 2028" [Patrick Tuifua commits to RC Toulon until 2028]. RC Toulon (Press release) (in French). 4 April 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ "Magpies 2024 NPC squad confirmed". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union (Press release). 29 July 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ @hbmagpies; (31 July 2024). "Squad 2024". Retrieved 1 August 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ Newboult, Colin (29 March 2024). "All Blacks and France in tug-of-war for teenage sensation as Hurricanes starlet 'wanted' by five Top 14 giants". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Newboult, Colin (14 May 2024). "France plan to 'block' All Blacks' swoop for wonderkid as tug-of-war intensifies". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Billiard, Willy (30 January 2024). "France U20: Five to watch". Six Nations Rugby. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "French youngster Patrick Tuifua to join Toulon despite All Blacks interest". NZ Herald. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ Kelly, Glenn (3 February 2024). "Under-20s Six Nations: France 31–37 Ireland - Visitors off to winning start". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Mortimer, Gavin (17 April 2024). "France and All Blacks in tug of war over latest star from New Caledonia". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
External links
- NZ Rugby History profile
- Patrick Tuifua at All.Rugby