Tongan Thor

Midnight64

I am not allowed to post a link but if you put in a search for the "Tongan Thor" or go to joe.ie. He is HUGE and FAST and only 18!!

George Hook

Is he eligible for Ireland? Also Ulster dibs, we are really short on props.

when you see him run straight on his thighs are so big they make it look awkward for him.

Neil3030

Am i the only one who thinks that a player of 135kg playing against teenagers is just damn right dangerous?

Midnight64

George Hook wrote: »

when you see him run straight on his thighs are so big they make it look awkward for him.

And yet he is still fast!!?

Midnight64

Neil3030 wrote: »

Am i the only one who thinks that a player of 135kg playing against teenagers is just damn right dangerous?

They thought so too, that is why they were jumping out of his way!!

But yes.

stephen_n

Has some balance for a big guy too!

sydthebeat

http://www.joe.ie/rugby/rugby-news/video-meet-rugbys-new-monster-the-tongan-thor/


totaly agree about the weight divisions though.... but maybe from U16s down......

Swiwi.

Neil3030 wrote: »

Am i the only one who thinks that a player of 135kg playing against teenagers is just damn right dangerous?

I'm guessing you never played club rugby in Auckland...

Yeah_Right

They have weight and age divisions throughout schoolboy level in NZ. He is playing first XV so its open weight. Jonah was 120kg as a teenager and Ben Afeaki (Chiefs prop) was 140kg +.

They even have an under 85kg grade for adults.

But yeah its not much fun when you're a skinny white boy waiting for your growth spurt. It toughens you up though.

awec

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcSvt99LUOQ

The 6th attempted tackle finally gets him down. :pac:

Some unit!

LeinsterDub

Yeah_Right wrote: »

They have weight and age divisions throughout schoolboy level in NZ. He is playing first XV so its open weight. Jonah was 120kg as a teenager and Ben Afeaki (Chiefs prop) was 140kg +.

They even have an under 85kg grade for adults.

But yeah its not much fun when you're a skinny white boy waiting for your growth spurt. It toughens you up though.

85kg seems very high, I've no issue playing in the forwards admittedly at j4 level and am 84kg

Yeah_Right

LeinsterDub wrote: »

85kg seems very high, I've no issue playing in the forwards admittedly at j4 level and am 84kg

When I was playing there may have been 1 or 2 forwards in our U19 squad that were under 85kg. Definitely none in the u21s. Once you get to the open age grades you don't send to see any so thats why they have the under 85kg grade. I know it may seem high but I have heard talk of them actually raising it. A few of my mates played that grade and it was a fun, social but very competitive grade.

Midnight64

awec wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcSvt99LUOQ

The 6th attempted tackle finally gets him down. :pac:

Some unit!

Looked like the 6th and 7th together?! Pity he held on though after all that hard work.

Swiwi.

Yeah_Right wrote: »

They have weight and age divisions throughout schoolboy level in NZ. He is playing first XV so its open weight. Jonah was 120kg as a teenager and Ben Afeaki (Chiefs prop) was 140kg +.

They even have an under 85kg grade for adults.

But yeah its not much fun when you're a skinny white boy waiting for your growth spurt. It toughens you up though.

I remember playing for my school at U16 level. It was pretty much a white boys school, so when the teams visited from elsewhere with their Polynesians, it was actually quite frightening. We got absolutely pasted on a few occasions, but I do remember our flyhalf kicking a penalty from halfway. About the only cheer for the home crowd

hype101

George Hook wrote: »

Is he eligible for Ireland? Also Ulster dibs, we are really short on props.

when you see him run straight on his thighs are so big they make it look awkward for him.

Pat Lam's your man.. He could nearly run for office at this stage.. I'd rather Mils Muliaina to Pat 'the cope' Gallagher's boarfish any day!

the baby bull elephant

Ah sure Billy Vunipola was 152kg in school.

sydneybound

How long before NZ steal him?

Yeah_Right

sydneybound wrote: »

How long before NZ steal him?

???

He's playing in NZ. Sacred Heart College in Auckland.

Swiwi.

sydneybound wrote: »

How long before NZ steal him?

How long before Ireland steal him

leftleg

sydneybound wrote: »

How long before NZ steal him?

Name one "islander" that NZ have stolen?

.ak

leftleg wrote: »

Name one "islander" that NZ have stolen?

Conrad Smith.

Swiwi.

.ak wrote: »

Conrad Smith.

Yes, we nicked him from the Pantheon of rugby gods

UlsterRMan

leftleg wrote: »

Name one "islander" that NZ have stolen?

define stolen..

Sivivatu?
Malakai Fekitoa?

both came to NZ as teenagers for rugby reasons.

leftleg

UlsterRMan wrote: »

define stolen..

Sivivatu?
Malakai Fekitoa?

both came to NZ as teenagers for rugby reasons.

source for the bolded remark please.

Sivivatu immigrated to NZ at 15 and went to Wesley College before playing rugby at club and provincial level prior to receiving a professional contract.

This is completely different to say Mike Bent or any fully adult "project player" system. He is similair to Manu Tuilagi, who was schooled and rugby trained in England.

Malakai Fekitoa came to NZ when he was 16 and also played at Wesley College. He is now 21 and is in NZ 5+ years. He has not been "stolen" by anybody.

This lazy tripe about NZ stealing "islanders" farted out by the likes of hacks such as Stephen Jones and Eddie Butler and more recently Gerry "Dexys Midnightrunners" Thornley is misguided and without any substance.

If anything the "Islanders" and other world nations take full advantage off "robbing" NZ born players and using them in their own teams.
New Zealand has the world’s largest population of Pacific Islanders.
For decades New Zealand has donated significantly more rugby players to represent Tonga, Samoa and other international Unions than has ever been the other way around. That is indisputable fact.

Poor you for swallowing that nonsence.

mulliansg

Both players went to wesley college on rugby scholarships after being spotted and qualified for NZ on residency grounds. Sivivatu was born and raised in Fiji, Fekitoa was born and raised in Tonga.

They are the only recent examples. But they are two players who came to new Zealand because of their talent as rugby players.

Swiwi.

Has this topic not been done to death by now? I see some of the people querying it are new regs, but a seach thru the archive will reveal all the prior discussions. I'm bored of the topic myself, I'm happy NZ does not send Special Ops forces into the Pacific to steal players, and I'm also happy plenty of other countries have players with Pacific origins in their mix. Blame the Wright brothers for inventing the airplane.

thomond2006

No Irish fan can get on a high horse about any kind of player poaching anymore with all this project player recruitment.

mulliansg

thomond2006 wrote: »

No Irish fan can get on a high horse about any kind of player poaching anymore with all this project player recruitment.

Not on high horse at all. Ireland are acting disgracefully with this project player tripe.

.ak

Meh. When all the project players actually turn out in green all at once then it might be disgraceful. As it stands the only project player that has been capped is Strauss, and I don't think anyone could really deny him that right, he's given his heart n soul to Irish rugby.

Yeah_Right

mulliansg wrote: »

Both players went to wesley college on rugby scholarships after being spotted and qualified for NZ on residency grounds. Sivivatu was born and raised in Fiji, Fekitoa was born and raised in Tonga.

They are the only recent examples. But they are two players who came to new Zealand because of their talent as rugby players.

I assume you have other older examples. If so, please enlighten me as I can't think of any.

hahashake

Fekitoa came to NZ and requested a trial at Wesley College. In other words, not even the school who gave him the scholarship poached him. There real issue is with schools stealing players from each other, not going blackbirding around the islands.

stephen_n

Swiwi. wrote: »

How long before Connacht steal him

FYP

blackdog1

Swiwi. wrote: »

Has this topic not been done to death by now? I see some of the people querying it are new regs, but a seach thru the archive will reveal all the prior discussions. I'm bored of the topic myself, I'm happy NZ does not send Special Ops forces into the Pacific to steal players, and I'm also happy plenty of other countries have players with Pacific origins in their mix. Blame the Wright brothers for inventing the airplane.

Most of the best islander players get trained in nz and play for their country of birth. How good would all these players be without the nz system? . If anything they have improved the standard their and yes its too their advantage too.. but its a win win situation.

Yeah_Right

blackdog1 wrote: »

Most of the best islander players get trained in nz and play for their country of birth. How good would all these players be without the nz system? . If anything they have improved the standard their and yes its too their advantage too.. but its a win win situation.

Do you mean like the 15 + NZ born players that were in the Samoan squad at the 2011 RWC?

Tox56

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Do you mean like the 15 + NZ born players that were in the Samoan squad at the 2011 RWC?

I'm pretty sure he was supporting your argument

Swiwi.

Here's the latest instalment. Some wheels, handling skills, and even a dummy from the big guy

Journeyman_1

Imagine having a TH that can play like that!

Swiwi.

Journeyman_1 wrote: »

Imagine having a TH that can play like that!

He's pretty much Cian Healy on speed. No idea if he can scrum, but he has afterburners there.

Tox56

Jesus, we need to ship over some PI's and have them mate extensively with the locals, that's insane

CatFromHue

If he's such a good runner with the ball why's he playing prop

dodderangler

Is it just me or is the video on joe.ie both look like his tries were all forward passes to him
Big oul lad alright but lads like him could be destroyed with injuries. Look at lomu with his speed and strength.
Best of luck to the lad anyway

Stheno

CatFromHue wrote: »

If he's such a good runner with the ball why's he playing prop

Size/weight in the scrum?

Stheno

dodderangler wrote: »

Is it just me or is the video on joe.ie both look like his tries were all forward passes to him
Big oul lad alright but lads like him could be destroyed with injuries. Look at lomu with his speed and strength.
Best of luck to the lad anyway

The second try looked like he was in touch before he set the ball down imo.

I reckon he'll be walloped with injuries and creak in middle age

Swiwi.

Stheno wrote: »

The second try looked like he was in touch before he set the ball down imo.

I reckon he'll be walloped with injuries and creak in middle age

Looks to me more like he'll be the one doing the injuring. I agree it's ridiculous not having a TMO for scholboy rugby :P

Stheno

Swiwi. wrote: »

Looks to me more like he'll be the one doing the injuring. I agree it's ridiculous not having a TMO for scholboy rugby :P

Ah I was being pedantic, but it was fairly obvious

Do you not think injuries will take a greater toll on him given his bulk?

Swiwi.

Stheno wrote: »

Ah I was being pedantic, but it was fairly obvious

Do you not think injuries will take a greater toll on him given his bulk?

Guess it depends if he gets promoted too quickly. Speaking of big Tongans and the commentator (Keith Quinn), here is a link to the clip which has gone down in NZ rugby infamy...Lomu, oh! OH!

Midnight64

CatFromHue wrote: »

If he's such a good runner with the ball why's he playing prop

Because he can not pass to save his life!! Sure he can be taught!!

dodderangler

Midnight64 wrote: »

Because he can not pass to save his life!! Sure he can be taught!!

Have you not see the size of him?
He doesn't need to pass the fcukin ball. Just give it to him and let him do the rest

Midnight64

dodderangler wrote: »

Have you not see the size of him?
He doesn't need to pass the fcukin ball. Just give it to him and let him do the rest

Indeed I did, I was the OP. In a couple of clips he did need to pass and fluffed it.

dodderangler

Midnight64 wrote: »

Indeed I did, I was the OP. In a couple of clips he did need to pass and fluffed it.

I checked on YouTube yeah he ain't best at passing but then again not many props are ......(







awaiting the abuse from props now ha joke lads

Midnight64

dodderangler wrote: »

I checked on YouTube yeah he ain't best at passing but then again not many props are ......(







awaiting the abuse from props now ha joke lads

Backs have to quickly learn to pass so that they don't get tackled and get their hair messed-up!!