MY LIFEIN RUGBY

THE FORMER NEW ZEALAND, BLUES, CHIEFS, WORCESTER, MUNSTER, SALE SHARKS AND COVENTRY CENTRE.

SAM TUITUPOU

WINNING Super Rugby in 2003 as a young buck playing almost every game in my first season with the Blues is a stand-out memory. It definitely compensated for missing out on the World Cup that year.

Graham Henry was involved with Auckland, the Blues and New Zealand during my time. His passion really stood out. Also the amount of detail he brought, both to reviewing the opposition and providing information to his own teams. That is part of his character, but it really set him apart from other coaches.

He was also the principal at my old school, Kelston Boys' High School, although he left to coach Wales the year before I moved there. It was at Kelston where Rugby (Union) took over from League as the main code for me. I'd grown up in a Rugby League area in West Auckland, alongside the Paul brothers, Robbie and Henry, and Shontayne Hape.

My dad was a massive influence, he kept my feet on the ground and made me humble. My older brothers were as well, I really looked up to them.

They all played rugby and would probably have gone further in the game than me had they been allowed to trial for rep teams. But my parents were very strict, and all the rep trials were on a Sunday and they didn't want us to play on the Sabbath. Luckily, my brothers used to cover for me and take me to the trials. If I got injured, I used to pretend it was from a Saturday game.

I was fortunate to be part of a big group of boys who came up through the system together. I captained the New Zealand U19s and U21s and then, in 2004, I won the first of my nine caps for the All Blacks.

I sort of look back and regret that I didn't play more games, but at the time I needed a new challenge and that's when I decided to head to Europe.

Even though I was terribly homesick at first, I had enjoyable spells at Worcester and Munster before Steve Diamond called me up and asked me to come to Sale. I'd had an Islander as a midfield partner in Dale Rasmussen at Worcester and Lifeimi Mafi at Munster and it was the same at Sale, where I formed a good pairing with Johnny Leota.

To have Johnny there, for so long, really made a difference, he understood way I played and vice versa and we got the best out of each other.

Throughout my career I had a reputation as a hard-tackling centre, and I did enjoy smokin' people. At the same time though, I didn't mind if people tried to smoke me, it was all part of the game as far as I was concerned.

I'd say my best moment in a Sale jersey came down at Exeter when I scored two tries. Not many sides go down there and win so convincingly (55-12 in April 2016). The Chiefs had their ‘pants pulled down' that day – a bit like Steve Diamond when he was the victim of one of my many practical jokes during my time at the Sharks.

After leaving Sale, I had two seasons at Coventry. It was great to be a part of such an historic club and also play a part in helping them win promotion back to the Championship. It was the first time since my Auckland days that I'd won anything so that made it even more special.

My goal was always to continue to about 40 so I could play with my boys, but my wife, Elizabeth, and I decided to start up a player agency, Pro Fifteen Ltd.

My big motivation has come from seeing problems that players have with agents – not just islanders but also local boys – so I'm hoping I can make a difference on the player welfare side.

JOHN NEWCOMBE