Leon Tuiloma taking his opportunities in higher rugby

• By Adam Julian

When Norths junior Leon Tuiloma suffered a 106-7 defeat playing for the Wellington Axemen against his former club in 2022, he entertained thoughts of quitting rugby altogether.

But Tuiloma is not a quitter and has a history of being the standout player in struggling teams. The robust and dynamic 20-year-old can play flanker or hooker with equal aplomb. Tenacious and humble, Tuiloma is on the cusp of the New Zealand U20 selection. He was a Hurricanes U18 representative out of Rathkeale College in Masterton.

“I love the game and don’t mind who I’m playing for. That’s not to say I’m not loyal to my teammates but every time you step on the field is an opportunity and a privilege,” Tuiloma said.

“My time at the Axemen was tough. I was mostly in the Colts where we struggled for numbers. It was frustrating not knowing how many boys would turn up to training. Some refused to do extras like the gym. As the hooker my only option would be to throw to the front of the lineout because we didn’t have enough jumpers at the back.

“Vernon Bason and A-One Lolofie are the two boys in the New Zealand team ahead of me. They’re both good players. Vernon, I know from the Hurricanes region. I played against him at Feilding High School. A-One is in Dunedin. He’s from the Hawke’s Bay.”

Playing for the Wellington Academy in their series in February against Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay. Photo: Andy McArthur.

Tuiloma is with Upper Hutt in 2024 and has been in imperious form in the first three rounds of the Swindale Shield. He was a significant contributor to wins against Poneke (15-12) and Petone (26-18). Last Saturday against Jubilee Cup champions Ories he was fearless, scoring a stunning try with a 25-metre burst. The Rams led 19-8 before losing 22-19. Upper Hutt’s lineout unraveled when Tuiloma was replaced as thrower.

“Ories are definitely up there. They got it together in the second half. After our second try in the second half, we didn’t get the kick-off and they scored. Their loose forward is awesome with the two Wellington Lions,” Tuiloma observed.

“My try was pretty cool. I saw there was a miss-match in front. There was heaps of space between me and the big Ories number eight. If I could get past him, it was on.

Leon’s try this past Saturday.

“I’m backing the boys. We’ve got what it takes. We had a few calls go against us and made a couple of fixable mistakes. I felt like we were the better team even though we lost game.”

The last dozen Upper Hutt games have been decided by ten points or less. That includes three defeats to Ories. In 2023 Ories beat Upper Hutt 24-23 in the Swindale Shield to stay in Jubilee Cup contention. Had Scott Svenson kicked a last-play penalty at the Polo Ground the Magpies would have been consigned to the Hardham Cup. A fortnight later Ories eliminated Upper Hutt from the Jubilee Cup with a 30-27 victory at Maidstone Park. Declan Hay landed a penalty with the last kick of the contest.

Former All Blacks lock Dion Waller was with the Axemen. He’s now Director of Rugby at the Rams and took Tuiloma with him in 2023. Tuiloma debuted for the Rams in a 35-48 defeat to Hutt Old Boys Marist and achieved his first win a week later against Petone (40-39). Waller helped Tuiloma secure a building apprenticeship.

“I appreciate Dion. He’s shown me the ropes. I’ve done a lot of training with him, and he’s been there to guide me a long time now.

“I went to Rongotai College and then got picked up by Rathkeale. We weren’t the greatest team in CNI. In 2019 we didn’t win a game and there wasn’t a good culture, a hierarchy. The last two years were better. In 2021 we won six games which was good.”

The Central North Island (CNI) competition features ten teams including wealthy private schools St Paul’s Collegiate (seven-time winners since 2012) and St Peter’s Cambridge. In the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, seven of the 23 All Blacks that took the field were from CNI schools, the most of any competition in New Zealand. Rathkeale has the smallest school roll in the competition.

In 2022 Tuiloma played for the Wellington Under 19’s who won the Central Region Shield defeating Hawkes Bay (22-19), Hurricanes Heartland (54-3), and Manawatū (48-15).

In 2023 Tuiloma featured for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Under 20. The Hurricanes were third. They beat Moana Pasifika (67-32) in the first round but lost narrowly to the Chiefs (26-33) in the semis before rallying to defeat 2023 champions the Blues (24-19) in a consolation playoff third.

Tuiloma identified All Blacks Ardie Savea (81 Tests, 24 tries, 59 wins), Dane Coles (90 Tests, 23 tries, 73 wins) and England’s Ellis Genge (62 Tests, 6 tries, 39 wins) as his rugby heroes. Tuiloma nominated Genge because he’s inspired by the story of the prop who grew up in a council flat, endured trouble with the law, and overcame racism, class prejudice, and dyspraxia to become captain of England.

Leon’s father Terry is a road worker and Mum Julia operates a call centre that employs Leon’s older sister Oliva.

This Saturday Upper Hutt travel to Ngati Toa Domain to tackle Swindale Shield holders Paremata-Plimmerton. After two narrow defeats, the Hammerheads opened their account last Saturday with a 74-10 thrashing of Avalon. In 2023 Upper Hutt defeated Paremata-Plimmerton 35-34 in the first game of the Swindale Shield. The Hammerheads then won 14 consecutive matches, including a 31-27 win over Upper Hutt in the Jubilee Cup.