Tupou Sopoaga

Tupou Sopoaga
Sopoaga playing for the Sharks in 2013.
Personal information
Born (1992-06-05) 5 June 1992
Wellington, New Zealand
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Playing information
Position Second-row, Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–14 Cronulla-Sutherland 16 0 0 0 0
2015– Penrith Panthers 5 0 0 0 0
Total 21 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–15 Cook Islands 3 0 0 0 0
As of 20 August 2015
Source: [1]

Tupou Sopoaga (born 5 June 1992) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League. Sopoaga primarily plays second-row and lock. Sopoaga has represented the Cook Islands and is the brother of All Black Lima Sopoaga.

Early years

Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Sopoaga is of Cook Islander and Samoan descent. He played his junior football for the Petone Panthers before being signed by the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. In 2010, Sopoaga played for the New Zealand Schoolboys rugby union team. Sopoaga played for the Bulldogs NYC team in 2011 and 2012. On 4 October 2012, Sopoaga signed a 1-year contract with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks starting in 2013. On 13 October 2012, Sopoaga played for the Junior Kiwis.[2]

Sopoaga is the younger brother of Highlanders Super Rugby player Lima Sopoaga[3] and cousin of former teammate at the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Cook Islands, Tinirau Arona.

Professional playing career

2013

In Round 26 of the 2013 NRL season, Sopoaga made his NRL debut for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at second-row against the Canberra Raiders in the Sharks 38-18 win at Canberra Stadium.[4] Sopoaga played a match for the Sharks in the 2013 NRL season. On 22 September 2013, Sopoaga was named at second-row in the 2013 New South Wales Cup Team of the Year.[5] In October and November 2013, Sopoaga was selected to play for the Cook Islands in their 2013 World Cup campaign,[6] playing in 2 matches. Sopoaga made his international debut against the United States in the 32-20 loss at The Memorial Stadium.[7]

2014

In February 2014, Sopoaga was selected for the Sharks inaugural 2014 Auckland Nines squad.[8] Sopoaga finished the Sharks 2014 season with him playing in 15 matches. On 11 November 2014, Sopoaga signed a 2-year contract with the Penrith Panthers starting in 2015.[9]

2015

On 24 January 2015, Sopoaga was named in the Panthers 2015 Auckland Nines squad.[10] On 8 August 2015, he made his Panthers debut in Round 22 against the Parramatta Eels.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Tupou Sopoaga rugbyleagueproject.org
  2. ↑ http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-4977-0-0-0&sID=64815&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=20791193
  3. ↑ "Old Boys-University: Lima Sopoaga". Club Rugby. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  4. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/raiders-agony-finally-over-for-season-2013-20130908-2tefz.html
  5. ↑ http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2013/09/22/2013-nswrlcomau-vb-nsw-cup-team-of-the-year-announcement.html
  6. ↑ http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/sport/nrl/news/2013/10/cook-islands-announce-squad-for-rugby-league-world-cup/
  7. ↑ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/usa-tomahawks-upset-cook-islands-in-rugby-league-world-cup-debut/story-fni3fbgz-1226750241163
  8. ↑ http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/squads-auckland-nines/
  9. ↑ http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/panthers-sign-tupou-sopoaga/
  10. ↑ http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/panthers-unveil-2015-nines-squad/
  11. ↑ http://www.nrl.com/updated-round-22-nrl-team-lists/tabid/10874/newsid/88631/default.aspx

External links

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