Tamarua played for Queensland Reds, in Australia, from 1997 to 1999. He later played for NEC Harlequins, in England, for 2001/02 but missed a portion of the season due to injury. He then played for Swansea, in Wales, for 2002/03, moving to Northland, in New Zealand, in 2003. He moved again to Henley Hawks, in 2004, then to Rotherham, in January 2005. In June 2005, he was assigned for Pertemps Bees. His last season was at Pontypridd, in 2006/07.
Tamarua played for Australia Sevens, in 2000, but played instead for the Cook Islands national rugby union team. He was the first and still the only Cook Islands player to have been selected and played for the Pacific Islanders, in 2004.
