Connor Tupai
NZ rugby union player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Connor Tupai (born 8 December 1999) is a New Zealand born rugby union player currently playing for San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby. He plays as a Scrum-Half.
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| Born | 8 December 1999 Rotorua, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 89 kg (14 st 0 lb; 196 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Northampton School for Boys | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Paul Tupai (father) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Connor is the son of Paul Tupai who played over one thousand rugby union games for club and country across a 28-year playing career.[1]
Tupai was born in Rotorua, New Zealand on 8 December 1999.[2] At the age of 6 he moved to England with his family. His father, Paul Tupai had been playing for Bay of Plenty, stepping down in October 2005.[3] Following a tour to England with Samoa rugby, he was spotted by Budge Pountney, director of rugby at Northampton Saints at the time.[4] Paul Tupai signed for Northampton in December 2005.[5]
Connor Tupai began his rugby career playing for his school, Northampton School for Boys. He was billed as a dynamic utility back during his school playing career, excelling at fly-half and centre.[6]
In 2016, Tupai and the NSB team reached the 2016 NatWest Schools Cup Vase final at Twickenham Stadium. Connor scored a game winning drop goal and claimed man of the match.[7]
He has a close relationship with retired Saints and England Rugby captain, Dylan Hartley. Hartley and Connor's father moved to Northampton from Rotorua at a similar time. Tupai took Hartley under his wing who in turn babysat the young Connor Tupai, teaching him ball skills. Their brotherly relationship remains strong today.[4]
Tupai joined the Northampton Saints junior academy at a young age and was awarded his first professional contract with the club's senior academy in 2018.[8]
The young scrum half appeared in his first Northampton senior game in the annual Mobbs Memorial Match against the Army Rugby Football Club in 2018.[9]
He captained a young Northampton team during the Premiership Rugby Sevens Series in 2019.[10] Hosted at Franklin's Gardens, the Saints team failed to win a game and did not progress in the competition, ultimately won by Saracens.[11]
Following a steady string of off the bench appearances for Northampton, Tupai started his first European Rugby Champions Cup game against Leinster at the age of 20.[12] Northampton lost, 50–21.[13]
Prior to the 2024 season, Tupai signed with Major League Rugby side San Diego Legion.[14]