Ukuma Taʻai

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Ukuma Ta'ai
180px
Ta'ai playing for the Auckland Vulcans
Personal information
Born (1987-01-17) 17 January 1987 (age 37)
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Weight 105 kg (16 st 7 lb)[2]
Playing information
Position Second-row, Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2009–12 NZ Warriors 52 7 0 0 28
2013– Huddersfield Giants 78 23 0 0 92
Total 130 30 0 0 120
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2006–15 Tonga 8 2 0 0 8
Source: RLP, Huddersfield Giants Profile

Ukuma Ta'ai (born 17 January 1987) is a Tongan professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Huddersfield Giants of the Super League. His usual position is at Second Row but he can play at Prop.

Early years

Ta'ai was educated at Tonga College and originally played rugby union.

When he moved to Auckland, New Zealand, Ta'ai played for the University club and made the Auckland Rugby Union second XV.[3]

The following year, at the suggestion of a friend, he switched codes and joined the Mt Albert Rugby League Club and played in the Auckland Rugby League competition.[3] In 2008 he played for the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup.

Ta'ai played rugby union on Fridays for Tonga College and played rugby league on Saturdays for his home village club, the Fuekafa of Te'ekiu.

Warriors

Ta'ai was signed by the New Zealand Warriors in 2009 and made his debut in a trial game against the North Queensland Cowboys.[4] He made his first grade debut in Round Two 2009 against the Manly Sea Eagles.[5] Ta'ai scored the Warriors first try against Penrith on 17 April after pouncing on a loose pass and crossing under the sticks.

He re-signed with the Warriors for the 2012 season but was told he would be released by the club at the end of the year.[6][7]

Huddersfield Giants

On 12 September 2012 Ta'ai signed with Huddersfield Giants until 2015. His transfer was held up by red tape, until in January 2013 he was granted a British work permit.[8] He scored his first try against Hull FC on 7 July 2013.

Representative career

In 2006 Ta'ai played for Tonga in the Pacific Cup, picked from Tonga College's Under 19 rugby union team at the age of 19.[9] The Tongan team won the tournament.

He played for Tonga in the 2009 Pacific Cup.[3]

At the conclusion of the 2015 season, Ta'ai played for Tonga in their Asia-Pacific Qualifier match against the Cook Islands for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Jones set to take on defending premiers Yahoo!Xtra Sport, 17 March 2009
  6. ↑ an one of eight Warriors to extend contracts rleague.com, 29 May 2011
  7. ↑ Ta'ai set to leave Warriors New Zealand Herald, 27 May 2012
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ TNRL Current Players Tongan National Rugby League

External links

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