Kuramate Tama Tuirirangi (born 15 September 1978) is a New Zealand former professional rugby union player.[1]

Tama Tuirirangi
Full nameKuramate Tama Tuirirangi
Date of birth (1978-09-15) 15 September 1978 (age 46)
Place of birthInvercargill, New Zealand
Height181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight111 kg (245 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1998–04 Taranaki 44 (10)
2006 Wellington 3 (0)
2006 Manawatu 2 (0)
2012–13 Otago 15 (0)
2015 Mid Canterbury 10 (5)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
1999–00 Hurricanes 11 (0)
2001 Chiefs 6 (0)
2003 Hurricanes 9 (0)
2007 Reds 7 (0)

Rugby career

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Born in Invercargill, Tuirirangi was capped for the 1999 NZ under-21s team.[2]

Tuirirangi was a Hurricanes prop in 1999 and 2000, then got picked up by the Chiefs as injury cover. He was sent off against the Sharks in round eight of the 2001 Super 12 season for striking and didn't feature again for the Chiefs.[3]

Following a long period on the sidelines with a slipped disc injury, Tuirirangi had another year at the Hurricanes in 2003 and a season in Italy with Brescia-based club Leonessa.[4][5]

Tuirirangi played for the Queensland Reds in the 2007 Super 14 season, signed from the Gold Coast Breakers.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Veteran prop enjoying his rugby". Stuff.co.nz. 25 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Kuramate Tama Tuirirangi". New Zealand Rugby History.
  3. ^ "Chiefs offer little resistance to Sharks". NZ Herald. 15 April 2001.
  4. ^ "NPC first step for Cullen". NZ Herald. 25 July 2001.
  5. ^ McMurran, Alistair (25 October 2012). "Rugby: Tuirirangi to add oomph to Otago pack for final". Otago Daily Times.
  6. ^ "S14: Reds bank on big Kiwis". Brisbane Times. 14 March 2007.
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