Tauasosi Tuimavave happy at the Stags

Playing on Westpac Stadium for the first time, a return to full fitness and a run against his home province has Southland Stags wing Tauasosi Tuimavave excited about tomorrow night’s Men’s NPC match against the Wellington Lions.

For the visiting Stags this encounter with fellow Championship contender Wellington is the third in nine days, following their first win last Wednesday against Bay of Plenty (20-16) at home and a defeat to North Harbour (14-35) in Albany on Sunday. For Tuimavave (pictured above, photo supplied), who has been named to play on the right wing against Wellington, it’s his third start of the NPC after recent injury.

He explained his injury. “I’ve just come back from a broken little finger. I did it just before our first game and had to strap it up and rest for two weeks while it healed. For now I have to play with a little splint on my little finger.”

As with any injury, but perhaps more so with one like this, he’s had to remain patient. But that’s something the former New Zealand U20s player knows more about than most first-class players.

He displayed his obviously class and was destined for higher honours throughout his school career for the St Pat’s Town First XV - but broke his arm no fewer than three times as a teenager.

When fit he played several big games for St Pat’s Town. Such as in 2012 when they lost 17-56 to Melbourne Storm NRL grand finalist Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s Wellington College and he was the best player on the field and scored a stunning solo try.

He explained his arm is all good now and that is behind him. Last year though he broke his leg playing for his Invercargill club Woodlands, but recovered to play his maiden season for the Stags and ended the season as their first choice fullback.

He’s raring to go against the Lions on Friday night on their home turf.

“I’m excited to be playing back home in front of all my family and friends and take on the Lions. I’ve never played on Westpac Stadium before either so that’s something else to really look forward to”

He played a full season at fullback for Woodlands in Southland club rugby this year.

Tuimavave scored two tries in the final, but couldn’t prevent Woodlands losing this year’s championship Galbraith Shield decider to the Eastern Northern Barbarians.

“We came up just short this year in the final, which was disappointing but it gives us something to come back for next year to try and win back the title.”

This year’s final was in fact a thriller. Woodlands led 10-0 midway through the first half on the back of Tuimavave‘s first try and a penalty and conversion to first five-eighth Wharenui Hawera. But the Barbarians launched a comeback and took a 13-10 lead into halftime and then a 21-10 advantage deep into the contest. Tuimavave bagged his brace, but the Barbarians held on to win 21-15 and annex their first Southland club title.

Tuimavave counts several Woodlands players as also Southland Stags teammates, such as talismanic hooker Jason Rutledge and Hawera.

“Wharenui Hawera does most of the goal-kicking for both the club and NPC team, but ‘m still practising my kicking and staying on top of that when I’m called upon to take shots.”

Kicking goals is of course second nature to Tuimavave. In 2013 he scored 229 points for his Wellington club Poneke. In one game against Rimutaka he scored 50 points (6 tries, 10 conversions) and made the front page of the paper for all the right reasons.

He’s grateful for the support of his old club.

“I still follow Poneke closely; they did well this year [finishing just outside the championship playoffs] which was really good to see. I came up a couple of times and watched a couple of their games and went to training and caught up with the boys. They’ve got some promising players coming through.”

He said he also follows the St Pat’s Town First XV, while as an adopted Southlander he was proud of the Southland Boys and Girls First XVs (winners) that both made this year’s National Top 4.

What about Sevens rugby? “I still play Sevens but it’s not as big as it is in Wellington, but hopefully it can grow.” Southland failed to qualify for last year’s Sevens Nationals.

Tuimavave himself joined a New Zealand Development sevens camp late last year. This was followed by a fifteens training contract at the start of this year with the Highlanders.

What about the future? He’s signed on with Southland for 2016 and 2017, but family ties are strong. “I’ll talk to my family and see what they think I should do. We’ll see how it pans out over the next year or so.”

What: Wellington Lions v Southland Stags
Where: Westpac Stadium
When: Friday night, 7.35pm