By the editorial staff
Published 43 minutes ago, Updated now
Patrick Tuifua with the French under-20 team, against Scotland, during the last Six Nations Tournament. ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP
The Caledonian third row, who plays in New Zealand, played two matches with the French U20s but he can still claim to play for the All Blacks.
Patrick Tuifua, born in New Caledonia but who has played in New Zealand since he was 15, played two matches with the Bleuets during the last Six Nations Tournament. A remarkable debut since he was notably elected man of the match against Ireland. It now remains to be seen how he will continue his international career. The player is torn between France – he has JIFF status (Player from training channels) having started at the Caledonian club JSL Normandie Rugby and having passed through the Pôle France in Nouméa – and New Zealand, where he had won a scholarship to Lindisfarne College (in Hastings), at the age of 15.
Today, the nephew of the pillar Laurent Simutoga (spent at Stade Français Paris and La Rochelle) plays with the Hawke’s Bay Magpies, in the NPC (Kiwi provincial championship) and his contract runs until 2025. He could making his Super Rugby debut with the Wellington Hurricanes. The question was whether there was going to be a legal battle between the FFR and the NZRU over Patrick Tuifua.
For now, the powerful and mobile third row is free to choose between France and New Zealand for the rest of his career. The fact of having been selected for the French U20s did not “lock” him for France, the FFR confirmed to us, which created a “French development team” which is “blocking”. “I remain eligible for the All Blacks next year, after five years of residence in New Zealand”he recently explained to the daily The Team.
