Siokatame Gary Tupou
Tupou playing for Bradford in 2007
Personal information
Full name	Tame Tupou
Born	22 October 1982 (1982-10-22) (age 27)
	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Playing information
Position	Wing
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2004–06	Brisbane Broncos	25	15	0	0	60
2007–08	Bradford Bulls	20	10	0	0	40
2009–	Wests Tigers	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	45	25	0	0	100
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2006–07	New Zealand	4	0	0	0	0
As of 9 July, 2009
Source: Rugby League Project

Siokatame Gary Tupou^[1] also known as Tame Tupou and ^[2] Gary Tupou (born 22 October 1982, in Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays for the West Tigers in the National Rugby League competition. He has also represented the New Zealand national side. His usual position is on the wing and he can also play as a second rower.

[edit] Early Years

Tupou was born in Auckland and played in the Bartercard Cup before being signed to the National Rugby League.^[3]

[edit] Broncos

Tupou made his National Rugby League debut for the Brisbane Broncos in 2004. His size and speed led many^[who?] 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.^{[citation needed]}

In the 2006 season, a year the Broncos won the premiership, Tupou (together with captain Darren Lockyer) was the Broncos' top try-scorer. He scored more than once in several matches, earning him the nickname "two-tries Tupou". Tupou did not play for Brisbane in 2007, but was relegated to their Queensland Cup side, the Aspley Broncos. In round 7 he was released from his contract with the club.

[edit] Bradford

Tupou signed for Bradford Bulls in April 2007. Tupou agreed to a switch to Bradford as a direct replacement for Lesley Vainikolo who joined Gloucester RFC in May 2007.^{[clarification needed]} Tupou made his debut against Huddersfield Giants in the quarter finals of the 2007 Challenge Cup on 6 June with two tries as a substitute in the Bulls' win. He enjoyed a good start to his Bulls career by scoring 10 tries in 11 games that season.

Tupou made a poor start to 2008, starting in three games and coming on as a substitute in others. Despite his poor form, in August that year he was named in the Tonga training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup but was not selected in the final squad.^[4].

In April 2009 Bradford released Tupou after a Rugby Football League tribunal allowed the club to exercise a clause in his contract which stated that the player's contract could be terminated if he was unable to play or train for a 26 week period in any one year.^[5]

[edit] Wests Tigers

In July 2009 it was announced by Bradford that Tupou had signed for the Wests Tigers in the NRL competition with immediate effect.^[6]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Bradford sign Tupou from Broncos
• Tupou signs for Bradford Bulls