Tupou playing for Bradford in 2007
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Personal information
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Full name | Siokatame Gary Tupou | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born |
Auckland, New Zealand |
22 October 1982 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information
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Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 114 kg (17 st 13 lb; 251 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Rugby League Project |
Siokatame Gary Tupou also known as Tame Tupou and Gary Tupou (born 22 October 1982, in Auckland, New Zealand) is a former professional rugby league footballer who represented the New Zealand national side. His usual position was on the wing, but he also played as a second rower. He first played in the National Rugby League for Australian club, the Brisbane Broncos, and then in Super League for English club, the Bradford Bulls.
Tupou was born in Auckland and played rugby league in his early years for Ellerslie Eagles before attending boarding school in South Auckland, Wesley College. There he played for the school's 1st XV rugby union team. After his years in college, he returned to rugby league, playing in the Bartercard Cup before being signed to the National Rugby League.
Tupou made his National Rugby League debut for the Brisbane Broncos in 2004. His size and speed led many Broncos fans to hope he could help fill the huge gap left in the Broncos' wings since Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri left the club to play for the Wallabies.
Tupu made his international debut for the New Zealand Kiwis in the 2006 ANZAC Test. In the 2006 season, a year the Broncos won the premiership, Tupou was the Broncos' joint top try-scorer, along with captain Darren Lockyer. He scored more than once in several matches, earning him the nickname "two-tries Tupou". He also continued to play on the wing for New Zealand in the end of season 2006 Tri-Nations.