Big Ben Tupuola

Ben Tupuola has little involvement in match day warm-ups for Wainuiomata. The hulking No.8 is a machine operator who needs rest before games.

“I often work on Fridays from 1am to 10am. Then I take my two girls to league so I nap before kick-off. If I don’t get my sleep, I get grumpy.” Tupuola explains.

Awaking Tupuola from his pre-match dose is like poking a beer. Tupuola is one of the most consistently damaging players in Wellington club rugby, but a decade ago Tupuola was doing more damage to himself than adversaries on the field.

Tupuola hails from Glendowie in Auckland. The oldest of at least six children, Tupuola’s mother died in his early teens and this sent Ben off the rails.

“I was a street kid doing silly things like drugs and alcohol. I would go to parties and drink a box of 12% Cody’s and pick fights. My youngest siblings looked up to me and followed me into that life.” Tupuola rues.

Tupuola has visible scarring on his arms, a harsh reminder of the gentle giant’s lowest point.
“I used to cut myself. I had to get one cut sown up. Looking back, I don’t know why I would do that to myself. I guess it was desperate attention seeking.”

Tupuola shifted to Wellington in 2005, but initially trouble only followed him. He was fired from his first job after knocking out a fellow employee in a work place dispute. His behavior at the Wainuiomata clubrooms was even worse. The club issued a trespass notice against him.

“I was angry and made bad choices. I didn’t feel loved and that caused me to hurt people. Meeting my wife Sunema changed my life.” Tupuola reflects.

Tupuola became a member of the Wainuiomata Assembly of God Church where today he occasionally preaches and plays base in the band.

“The selflessness of the Church really appealed to me. Church helped me control my anger. It put me in touch with good people. Once I gave my life to Christ it helped me became a better person.” Tupuola believes.

Wainuiomata reopened its doors, but Tupuola made an unsuccessful foray into the front row. In 2008, he sustained a serious injury against Marist St. Pat’s.

"I had no idea how to scrum and basically smashed my shoulder against my opposite. I was out of rugby for the best part of three years. I had an operation on my right shoulder and I still have screws in there holding it together. I have done both shoulders and a knee, but I seem to be holding together OK.” Tupuola reveals.

Tupuola dabbled in league, but it wasn’t until 2014 where he came off age. Tupuola won the Billy Wallace Best and Fairest Award as the best player in Wellington club rugby and in the process helped Wainuiomata reach their first Jubilee Cup final.

“That was a special year. For the first time in my life I was passionate about sport. Before that I just played for the social side of it. In 2014, we had a great group of boys who really wanted to achieve something for the good people at this club.” Tupuola stresses.

Tupuola doesn’t play on Sundays which prevented him for taking part in the final.

“It was an easy decision not to play the final. My Sunday’s are devoted to honouring God. I was annoyed at the Wellington Rugby Union for changing the day of the game. Why play every game on Saturday then the final on Sunday?” Tupuola asks.

Tupuola watched the final in his church outfit.

The 2017 Jubilee Cup final will be played on Saturday at the Petone Rec. Wainuiomata still has a lot of work to do to reach the semi-finals, but Tupuola is doing everything in his power to ensure the Green and Blacks are present.

Tupuola is second in the Best and Fairest competition standings and has scored eight tries this year, five more than he bagged in 2014.

“We showed when we beat OBU that if we really want it and play well we can beat any team. It’s a tough comp with so many even teams. You can’t be casual at any time.” Tupuola asserts.

Tupuola treats every opponent the same.

“I used to get angry and worry about my direct opponent, but that’s a waste of energy. Now I just try to go forward and if I am going forward I am doing my job.” Tupuola theories.

Tupuola is now the father of four children and is tight with his family after some “challenging” times.

Tupuola has forgiveness tattooed on his right arm.