Tony Tuimavave

{{Short description|Former NZ & Samoa international rugby league footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Tony Tuimavave

|fullname = Antonio Emil Tuimavave[http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=T&id=663 TUIMAVAVE, ANTHONO EMIL (TONY) 1995 - KIWI #663] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402171319/http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=T&id=663 |date=2012-04-02 }} nzleague.co.nz

|image =

|caption =

|position = {{rlp|PR|LK}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1969|4|24}}

|birth_place = Apia, Western Samoa

|height = {{convert|182|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|95|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

|retired = yes

|club1 = Mount Albert Lions

|year1start =

|year1end =

|appearances1 =

|tries1 =

|goals1 =

|fieldgoals1 =

|points1 =

|club2 = Northcote Tigers

|year2start =

|year2end =

|appearances2 =

|tries2 =

|goals2 =

|fieldgoals2 =

|points2 =

|club3 = Sheffield Eagles

|year3start = 1991

|year3end = 92

|appearances3 = 21

|tries3 = 13

|goals3 = 0

|fieldgoals3 = 2

|points3 = 54

|club4 = Waitakere City

|year4start = 1994

|year4end =

|appearances4 = 6

|tries4 = 0

|goals4 = 0

|fieldgoals4 = 1

|points4 = 1

|club5 = Auckland Warriors

|year5start = 1995

|year5end = 00

|appearances5 = 78

|tries5 = 9

|goals5 = 0

|fieldgoals5 = 0

|points5 = 36

|teamA = Auckland

|yearAstart = 1988

|yearAend = 94

|appearancesA =

|triesA =

|goalsA =

|fieldgoalsA =

|pointsA =

|teamC = New Zealand

|yearCstart = 1995

|yearCend =

|appearancesC = 1

|triesC = 0

|goalsC = 0

|fieldgoalsC = 0

|pointsC = 0

|teamD = Western Samoa

|yearDstart = 1990

|yearDend = 97

|appearancesD = 2

|triesD = 0

|goalsD = 0

|fieldgoalsD = 0

|pointsD = 0

|updated = 3 December 2008

|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/tony-tuimavave/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/tony-tuimavave/summary.html|title=Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}

|new = yes

| module = {{infobox person

| embed = yes

| father =

| mother =

| relatives = Paddy Tuimavave (brother)
Paki Tuimavave (brother)
Carlos Tuimavave (nephew)
Evarn Tuimavave (nephew)
Antonio Winterstein (nephew)

| children =

}}

Antonio (Tony) Emil Tuimavave is a Samoan former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s, who was the head coach of the Ponsonby Ponies from 2010, primarily as a {{rlp|pr}} also as a {{rlp|lk}}. He was nicknamed The Chief because he is a chief back in his native Samoa.[http://www.samoaobserver.ws/sports/SPNews/0307/1207sp001.htm Chief back to his roots 12 March 2007]

Playing career

Until the formation of the Auckland Warriors, Tony remained largely unheard off outside of the Auckland Scene. He played for the Mt Albert Lions and Northcote Tigers in the Auckland Rugby League competition. He was an Auckland rep from 1988 to 1994 playing over 30 matches for the province. In 1994 he played for the Waitakere City Raiders in the Lion Red Cup, and captained the Western Samoa tour of New Zealand.Richard Becht. A New Breed Rising: The Warriors Winfield Cup Challenge. Auckland, HarperCollins, 1994. {{ISBN|1-86950-154-3}} p.78.Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1994. p.50

He was in the inaugural Warriors side in 1995 and remained a fixture in the squad until his retirement in 2000. He was the last of the inaugural team to leave the club.{{fact|date=May 2022}}

Representative career

A Kiwi in 1995, Tuimavave also represented Western Samoa in the 1990 Pacific Cup, 1992 Pacific Cup, and at the 1995 World Cup.

Coaching career

In 2010, he was named the head coach of the Ponsonby Ponies in the Auckland Rugby League competition.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/auckland-city-harbour-news/3316409/Ponies-rein-in-co-coaches-for-the-long-haul|title=Ponies rein in co-coaches for the long haul|author=Morgan, Scott|date=12 February 2010|work=Auckland City Harbour News|accessdate=23 November 2011}}

Later years

After his retirement from rugby league he flirted with becoming a professional boxer, winning his only professional fight in 2001. He returned to play for the Mt Albert Lions in the Bartercard Cup in 2004.

He now runs a jet ski rental business in Apia, Western Samoa, and is involved in the grassroots of Samoan rugby league.[http://www.eventpolynesia.com/news&info/samoa/galleryarchive/SA2_page_gal25mar07.htm Business of the Week: Apia Jet Ski, Scooter and Car Rentals 26 March 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927235928/http://www.eventpolynesia.com/news%26info/samoa/galleryarchive/SA2_page_gal25mar07.htm |date=27 September 2007 }}

Family

The Tuimavave family has a large presence in Auckland rugby league. He is Uncle to current players Evarn Tuimavave (Newcastle Knights), Carlos Tuimavave (Warriors) and Antonio Winterstein (Cowboys)[http://www.rleague.com/db/player/t/tuimavave_evarn/index.php Tuimavave signs to stay a Warrior until 2009 18 June 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612063129/http://www.rleague.com/db/player/t/tuimavave_evarn/index.php |date=12 June 2007 }} Chanel Tuimavave played alongside Tony for the Mt Albert Lions in the Bartercard Cup, Paddy Tuimavave played for the New Zealand national rugby league team and Western Samoa and Paki Tuimavave also represented Western Samoa.

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20081015070842/http://rugbyleague.co.nz/player.asp?id=126&teamID=4 Profile at rugbyleague.co.nz]
[http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=104943 Boxing profile]

Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

Category:Junior Kiwis players

Category:Mount Albert Lions players

Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby league players in England

Category:New Zealand national rugby league team players

Category:New Zealand rugby league coaches

Category:New Zealand rugby league players

Category:New Zealand Warriors players

Category:Northcote Tigers players

Category:Ponsonby Ponies coaches

Category:Rugby league locks