Twenty-year-old Sam Tuitupou Jnr is one player that ‘Ikale Tahi head coach Tevita Tuifu’a is keeping an eye on, as the Tongan national rugby team head into the new World Rugby Nations Cup competition.
Tuitupou Jnr is one of the promising young players in the current squad, now in Denver in the USA, preparing for their first game against Zimbabwe on Sunday morning, New Zealand time.
He first caught the eyes of assistant coach Nili latu last year and played for his country of origin at last year’s Pacific Nations Cup, while playing in North Harbour.
This year he made his debut in the Moana Pasifika colours, playing against the Hurricanes in the big 52-10 loss in Wellington earlier on in the competition.
Moana Pasifika said at the time that “Tuitupou is a promising forward who was part of the Blues Under-20s squad in 2025”.
“He was also selected to the Blues Under-18 Development Squad in 2023 and is the son of former All Black midfielder Sam Tuitupou.
“Like his father, he attended Kelston Boys and was captain of the First XV. He led the team to an undefeated 1A title and also played for the North Harbour Development team.”
Tuifu’a said the player is growing into the opportunity given to him on the international stage.
“He is one exciting player, young and eager to learn and improve,” he said.
“He is learning fast and improving, having come through college, club, Super Rugby and now being able to continue into the international stage.
“We gave him his international debut last year and I can see that he will be a key player moving forward if he continues to improve at trainings and in the game if he is given the chance to do that.”
Tuitupou Jnr plays at openside flanker and has competition with Semisi Paea, Jimmy Tupou, Sione Misiloi and Otunuku Pauta.
Tuifu’a said having all the players in the squad is healthy as they will all be trying to win spots in the match-day 23s, and the competition would be beneficial to the team as whole.
“They give us a lot of options on who to use in what games and where to play them,” he added.
The Tongan management will name their team for the opening game on Friday.
Tuifu’a said they have had scrimmages against the USA team, and the weather has been good for them, although it does get hot at times.
Winger Solomone Kata and veteran prop Siegfried Fisi’hoi joined the team on Thursday.
“The players are all good, we are focusing on the game ahead,” Tuifu’a said.
“We have to start well and then keep the momentum, but the focus is on Zimbabwe now.
“We have a good squad, with some young guns and some experienced hands, with the players who were available to us. This is a good chance for them to show themselves and prove their worth.
“All this builds to the Rugby World Cup and it is important for us to use the opportunity we have.”
Tonga will meet Spain next week in their second game, before taking on Portugal in their last game for this stage of the competition.
The second round of the competition will be played over the November Test window.
Manu Samoa will also be in action in the Nations Cup.
They are in Chile and will meet Hong Kong China on Sunday morning in their first game, with other matches against Georgia and Romania scheduled.
In other international rugby commitments this weekend, the Fiji Under-20 team takes on Australia in their second game at the Junior World Championship in Georgia.
And the Flying Fijians will meet Wales in Cardiff early on Sunday morning in their opening game in the Nations Championship series.
