New Zealand team beat FIVE Top 14 clubs to ‘most sought-after’ French prospect’s signature – report
Patrick Tuifua in action for France U20 in 2024.
New Zealand appear to have won the race for the services of U20 sensation Patrick Tuifua, who is set to remain in the country for the foreseeable future.
The back-rower is currently only eligible for Fabien Galthie’s side after being born in the French territory of New Caledonia, but that will change in 2025.
Tuifua represented France’s U20 side in the opening two matches of the 2024 age-grade Six Nations Championship before he returned to New Zealand.
Playing in the NPC
The 20-year-old is contracted with Hawke’s Bay in the National Provincial Championship and has represented the Hurricanes at U20 level.
However, France were desperate to bring him back and the flanker had no shortage of suitors, according to Midi Olympique, who described him as the “most sought-after French prospect.”
It was reported that Top 14 giants Toulon, La Rochelle, Stade Francais, Montpellier and Toulouse were all very keen to sign Tuifua, but he seems to have rejected those offers.
The back-rower is set to commit to the Hurricanes as he looks to land a contract with the Wellington outfit, which would go one step towards fulfilling his apparent dream of becoming an All Black.
It is a blow for Les Bleus boss Galthie, who was reportedly looking to take him on their tour to South America in July before a knee injury ruled him out and prevented France from capturing the youngster.
“He is selectable, that’s a fact,” French Rugby Federation (FFR) vice-president Jean-Marc Lhermet had told Midi Olympique earlier this year.
“If we take him on tour, it is to make him play and if he plays, he will then be blocked by France. It is our wish, our will and he knows it.
“Fabien (Galthié) spoke about it with him during the last U20 Six Nations tournament.”
The consensus has been that Tuifua would ultimately like to play for New Zealand but, according to his France U20 coach Sébastien Calvet, that is not the case.
Calvet believes that playing in Super Rugby with the Hurricanes has always been his objective but, after that, the youngster’s international ambitions have yet to be decided.
“A lot of people talk, say he would like to play for the All Blacks but it’s not exactly that when you talk to him. He wants to play Super Rugby, he has set himself this objective of playing it with the Hurricanes franchise,” Calvet said in February.
There is no doubt, however, that his decision to commit to the Hurricanes – should it be confirmed – is a boost to New Zealand and will harm France’s chances of selecting him going forward.
His story
Tuifua started playing rugby at Jeunesse Sports et Loisirs de Normandie but was spotted at an amateur tournament by Lindisfarne College, who offered him a scholarship in New Zealand at the age of 15.
He was earmarked as a real talent from early on and duly signed a deal with Hawke’s Bay in the NPC, making his debut in 2023.
The flanker featured five times in the competition last year before appearing on three more occasions during the 2024 campaign.
Tuifua is contracted until the end of 2025, by which time the back-rower will have become eligible for the All Blacks.
He is the nephew of Laurent Simutoga, who was also educated at Lindisfarne College and came through the Hawke’s Bay system.
Simutoga then went on to play for Stade Francais and La Rochelle in France before moving back to New Zealand following his early retirement due to injury.
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