Taniela Tupou has signed a two-year deal to stay in Australia but is quitting the Queensland Reds to join the Melbourne Rebels from 2024.
Rugby Australia has granted Tupou’s demand to “show me the money” with a multi-million dollar deal.
Tupou is very unlikely to play for the Reds again after suffering an Achilles injury on the Spring Tour against Ireland. The Wallabies are hoping he is back in time for the Rugby Championship in a bid to prove fitness for the World Cup.
Tupou is off contract at the end of 2023 and was considered a flight risk. He has spoken openly about wanting to play in Japan and last year challenged RA to pay what was necessary to make him stay.
“Show me the money – I’m joking … I’m not joking though – c’mon (Dave) Rennie,” Tupou said last year.
“I’ve loved it, am so grateful for the Reds, they really trust me and I think I gave my all every year.
“This year, next year I’ll do everything I can to help this team win and we’ll see how we go after that.”
There were fears that Tupou’s deal with Rugby Australia had fallen through on Monday night when the governing body got cold feet.
Some at RA, including CEO Andy Marinos, were anxious about whether Tupou’s multi-million dollar deal was good business given the giant prop’s Achilles injury.
But, understanding the importance of landing a big fish after letting another slip through the net in Samu Kerevi last week, negotiations moved quickly on Tuesday after some RA executives caught wind of the possibility of losing the headline act to Japan.
On Tuesday night, Tupou gave the go-ahead to nominate the Rebels as his preferred franchise to join.
He will link up with his first coach in Super Rugby, Nick Stiles, who is the Rebels’ general manager.
Tupou also has a number of close friends at the Rebels, including former Reds hooker Alex Mafi.
His move to the Rebels is the biggest signature of the Super Rugby franchise’s history.
While the Rebels have signed poster boys in the past like James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale, as well as former England playmaker Danny Cipriani, Tupou is headline material and a tight-head prop who makes the game sexy and can win matches off his own bat.
His defection to the Rebels comes at the same time Tupou has been doing promotional work for the Reds ahead of their season opener against the Hurricanes in Townsville.
While many north of the Tweed border will be perplexed at how the Reds have let Tupou slip away, his departure was a long time coming.
Tupou has been increasingly restless at the Reds for more than a year, but his departure can help reinvigorate his career.
That’s not to lay the blame at the feet of the Reds, with Tupou needing to hold himself accountable for his career stalling.
But with his future sorted, Australian rugby will be desperate that Tupou can drive straight and find a renewed sense of motivation to fulfill his incredible potential.
Chopper
Roar Rookie
Tupo was a large part early reds success last having destroyed AA and whoever was playing THO for the Tahs: then the wheels fell off. I suspect RA is involved.. There is ABs test in Melbourne this year and Tupo will just be another marketing tool for RA. RA has made the mistake of trying to crack the Melbourne market before and despite some $ from a single game it was a huge failure.
HR
Roar Rookie
True – TT is very, very heavily built, but he’s not exactly tall. He’s giving away about 20 cm and 10 kg to Antonio (Tupou I’ve seen listed at 177 cm and 135 kg, Antonio around 145 kg playing weight and 197 cm).
El Flash
Roar Rookie
What an RA screw up signing this oaf up again. He's nothing but an overweight, lazy extra that in truth I'm sure Brad Thorn was happy to get off the books. Dave Rennie didn't rate him either so why is RA wasting hard cash on him. Take a look at his performances over the last 2 Super seasons. Supposedly there to assist in the hard yards you could usually find him hovering outside on the wingers in the hope of matching up against some 11 stone flyer. Whenever this guy took on men of his own size or even smaller he stopped faster than a Bondi tram !!
Adam
Guest
Tupou best years have past. He has yet to prove he will be fit to play any games this year and if he doesn’t how could they select him to go to the WC?
Dean
Roar Rookie
Wonderful news that Taniela is staying in Australia. I am really going to miss seeing him run out for my REDS though. I wish him all the best down at the Rebels.
James584
Roar Rookie
What is the point of the Rebels? And the Force? We should concentrate our elite rugby to 3 clubs. Or get out of Super Rugby. The Kiwis were right.
Keef with a Beef
Guest
Rebels is a rest home for injured front rowers. He’ll fit in nicely.
Keef with a Beef
Guest
And you know that how?
AndyS
Guest
Wow, how did I not know that DA is a politician...?
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Agreed. I'm not suggesting he looks at TH prop technique. It's more Eddie "suggests" TT gets fitter, improves his focus, commitment and mindset etc.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Eddie Jones is not the guy to trust with the development of a tight head prop.
Steven Harris
If i was Tupou's coach i would bar him from running the ball.His first 5 metres of acceleration are incredible but must strain every tendon,muscle or whatever in his legs , just remind him his winger days are long gone.
robbo999
Roar Rookie
I'm another one Malo. Foundation member and proud of it.
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
Umm, France or even La Rochelle with Atonio?? Very fit big man, even trained down I reckon he is bigger than TT
Warwick Todd
Guest
Graham, Stiles and Lillycrap were coaches that developed him. Thorn was the beneficary. Without Tupou, Thorn is on the lawnmower at Red Hill.
bigtree.smallaxe
Roar Rookie
Ray Nu'u and Stacey Ili are improving though. I thought Nu'u looked stronger than Toomua at IC last year. But obviously he's moving on after this seasonas is Hodge. I wonder who will fill the gaps there?
Charlie Turner
Guest
The grapes of wrath.
Coker
Roar Rookie
A really good prop is definitely worth his weight in gold, but otherwise I agree — Tupou ain't that. If this is an example of the ARU's brave new world, it's certainly going to be interesting times...
AJP
Roar Rookie
How about ... play TT at 12 and, wah-lah, your problem is solved, TWAS.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That’s the RA offer. From state to state for a wallaby top up player it’s not for the reason I noted