Latest news with #QuinnTupaea
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Chiefs star Quinn Tupaea aims for Super Rugby Pacific title, All Blacks recall
HOLD FOR FRIDAY Quinn Tupaea was just a youngster, when the Chiefs won back-to-back titles in 2012-13. Photo: Jeremy Ward/Photosport Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final Crusaders v Chiefs Kickoff: 7,05pm Saturday, 18 June Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch Live blog updates on RNZ Quinn Tupaea was a Chiefs fan before he was a player and he'd like nothing more than to help the franchise win another Super Rugby title. Twelve years have passed since they last lifted the trophy and they've suffered the heartbreak of defeat in the past two finals. They take on the Crusaders in Saturday night's title decider in Christchurch, where the hosts have never lost a playoff game . The Chiefs finished as top qualifiers for the post-season and midfielder Tupaea played a big role in their success, scoring several tries and making big defensive plays for his side. He said winning a Super Rugby title would be a career highlight. "That's the dream, that's the goal," Tupaea said. "Born in bred in Hamilton, I grew up a Chiefs fan, so to bring a championship to the city and to this region would mean the world to myself and this team." He was just a youngster, when the Chiefs won back-to-back titles in 2012-13, but Tupaea, 26, remembers them well. "I was 12 and 13," he said. "I was at those finals, sat in the family zone on the left side of the stadium and have some great memories with my family. "Looking back on it now, that's the feeling I want to bring to our fans and win a championship for our region. "There's been a lot of heartbreak for our fans the last 4-5 years, not getting over the line. We have very passionate fans and we get great crowds every week, so to bring the title to Hamilton for our fans, that would mean a lot." Tupaea's form in the Chiefs midfield has been impressive this season, but he's quick to credit his team for helping him produce consistent performances. "I've been showing up to work every day, wanting to get better, and my success this year has been on the back of of a successful team as well," he said. "It's a lot easier to play behind a good pack, and good nine and 10 [halfback and first-five] combo." "I'm enjoying my rugby and pretty happy." Quinn Tupaea's Super Rugby Pacific form may earn him an All Blacks recall. Photo: Brett Phibbs / Tupaea's played so well, he could earn an All Blacks recall on Monday, when the squad to play France in three tests in July is named. He hasn't featured for the All Blacks since 2022, when he suffered a serious knee injury against the Wallabies. While firmly focused on the task at hand with the Chiefs, he doesn't conceal his desire to return to the national side. "I would obviously like to get recalled into the [All Blacks] squad," Tupaea said. "It's a goal I set myself every year. "It's a place I want to be playing and it's the team I want to be in - it's a no-brainer. I'd like to hear my name called on Monday." Before then, the Chiefs must overcome history and end the Crusaders 31-match unbeaten run in home playoffs to win Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific final. Tupaea said that would make victory all the sweeter. "That's it - 31 and one, thank you very much!" Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
7 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific live updates: Chiefs v Brumbies
Quinn Tupaea in action for the Chiefs against Brumbies. Photo: Brett Phibbs / Who will meet the Crusaders in next weekend's final? Both sides come off contrasting results and motivations - the Chiefs desperate to finally taste glory, after two final defeats in a row, while the Brumbies carry the hopes of Australian rugby. Kickoff is at 7.05pm. Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog: Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Luke Jacobson, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Jared Proffit, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Jimmy Tupou, 20. Kaylum Boshier, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Gideon Wrampling Brumbies: 1. James Slipper, 2. Billy Pollard, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Nick Frost, 5. Tom Hooper, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Rory Scott, 8. Tuaina Taii Tualima, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Corey Toole, 12. David Feliuai, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Wright Bench: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Lington Ieli, 18. Feao Fotuaika, 19. Lachlan Shaw, 20. Luke Reimer, 21. Harrison Goddard, 22. Declan Meredith, 23. Ollie Sapsford
RNZ News
7 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Chiefs v Brumbies: What you need to know
Samipeni Finau on the charge. Photo: Brett Phibbs / Chiefs v Brumbies Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 14 June FMG Stadium Waikato Live blog updates on RNZ The Chiefs might've suffered a shock loss last weekend to the Blues but still retain home ground advantage for this straight knock out game against the Brumbies. At stake is a place in next weekend's final in Christchurch, where the Crusaders lie in wait. The Australians come in off the back of a very good win over the Hurricanes in their qualifying final Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Luke Jacobson, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Jared Proffit, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Jimmy Tupou, 20. Kaylum Boshier, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Gideon Wrampling Brumbies: 1. James Slipper, 2. Billy Pollard, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Nick Frost, 5. Tom Hooper, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Rory Scott, 8. Tuaina Taii Tualima, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Corey Toole, 12. David Feliuai, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Wright Bench: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Lington Ieli, 18. Feao Fotuaika, 19. Lachlan Shaw, 20. Luke Reimer, 21. Harrison Goddard, 22. Declan Meredith, 23. Ollie Sapsford Quinn Tupaea and Gideon Wrampling celebrate. Photo: Jeremy Ward/Photosport It's a welcome back to Quinn Tupaea in the Chiefs' midfield, he's back from injury so Gideon Wrampling moves to the bench. The loose forwards are reshuffled with Simon Parker out injured, so Wallace Sititi starts at number eight, with Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson on the sides of the scrum. Stephen Larkham has named an unchanged 23 from the side that beat the Hurricanes last weekend. Chiefs Damian McKenzie is tackled by Brumbies Declan Meredith during the Super Rugby Pacific. Photo: Brett Phibbs / The Chiefs will be looking to avoid back-to-back losses in Super Rugby Pacific for the first time this season. The Brumbies have won four of their last five Super Rugby Pacific games, with two of their four wins in that span coming after they trailed at halftime. Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard has scored nine tries across his last eight Super Rugby Pacific games, including two against the Hurricanes last weekend. "If you sort of look at just about every game in Super Rugby this year, it's gone down to the wire. Even when you've got first place playing last, those games, it's come down to the wire as well. We've spoken about that, when you get into the finals, every team is fairly evenly matched and it will come down to those little moments." Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham. "It might impact some individuals more than others, but we're pretty focused on winning what's directly in front of us. It's a bloody hard thing to win a Super Rugby competition. We've probably been good enough over the last five or six years to give ourselves a chance." - Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan. Chiefs 49 - 34 Brumbies This one could've gone either way at the hour mark, with the scores locked at 29-all on a glorious late summer afternoon in Hamilton. However, it was the Chiefs who managed to finish stronger with a couple of late tries, after Quinn Tupaea had made the first of a number of strong cases for an All Black recall this season. While both teams have a lot of try scoring ability, it is likely this game will feature a lot more kicking than the last time they played. Larkham already more or less confirmed that the Brumbies will be playing a heavy territory game, but the Chiefs arguably paid the price for going into their shells last weekend against the Blues. So really the key here is for Damian McKenzie to balance the game a bit more in their favour, or else they'll risk an ignominious exit.
Fox Sports
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Super Rugby playoffs set: Chiefs and Blues to face off again
Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The pieces of the playoffs puzzle in Super Rugby locked into place match by match during the last round of the regular season. The Hamilton-based Chiefs sealed first place and the defending champion Blues claimed sixth while Moana Pasifika's best-ever season ended in defeat. The Chiefs and Blues will now meet next weekend in a repeat of last year's final. Matches on Friday decided the top-three places which carry home advantage in next weekend's first playoff round, while Saturday's games sorted fourth to sixth place, setting up a series of competitive semifinals. The second-placed Crusaders will meet the Queensland Reds in Christchurch on Friday; the Chiefs will host the Auckland-based Blues in a contest between neighboring teams Saturday and the ACT Brumbies will face the Wellington-based Hurricanes in Canberra. History shows home advantage is a key factor in Super Rugby playoffs. The last-placed Highlanders gave the first-placed Chiefs an unexpectedly tough time Friday before losing 41-24. The Chiefs scored three tries and rushed out to a 19-0 lead in better than even time. But a lengthy injury break around the 20th minute when Chiefs midfielder Quinn Tupaea suffered a head injury broke the Chiefs' momentum and the Highlanders scored two tries to cut the lead to five points at halftime. The Highlanders trailed by 10 points with six minutes remaining and went close to scoring another try which would have made the final minutes tense. But lock Tupou Vaa'i scored his third try in the 80th minute to inflate the Chiefs' winning margin. While the Highlanders finished last, the losing margin was less than seven points in eight of its 11 defeats. Crusaders leap Brumbies The Crusaders scored a contentious late try to beat the Brumbies 33-31 in Canberra to take second place and consign the Brumbies to third. The Brumbies have now qualified for the playoffs in eight of the last nine full Super Rugby tournaments. They last qualified in first place in 2004, a year they went on to win the title. 'It's been 21 years and every year we start the season and talk about top two as a goal,' coach Stephen Larkham said. 'So yeah, we've missed an opportunity there again. 'It makes it a little bit harder for us. We're going to need a little bit of luck to get a home semifinal but that's out of our control now.' Moana Pasifika falls short The Hurricanes beat Moana Pasifika 64-12 to take fourth place. Moana Pasifika won six matches in a season for the first time, beating the Blues and Crusaders and finishing five points short of the playoffs. The Moana Pasifika players and fans celebrated the end of their season with enthusiasm, led in song by captain Ardie Savea. 'You know, everyone doubted us, God believed in us,' Savea said. 'These boys came together and we brought people together. 'We're not satisfied. Our goal was to win the thing and make the top six but that wasn't meant to be.' The Blues started the last round in seventh place and moved into the playoffs with a 46-6 win over the New South Wales Waratahs who also were in playoffs contention. Their clash with the Chiefs next weekend repeats last year's final in which the Blues beat the Chiefs 41-10. This year, the Chiefs start as firm favorites. The Reds beat the Fijian Drua 52-7 in the final match of the regular season and finished fifth. The Drua won four matches in the regular season but lacked the ability to win away from home. ___ AP rugby: recommended
Winnipeg Free Press
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Super Rugby playoffs set: Chiefs and Blues to face off again
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The pieces of the playoffs puzzle in Super Rugby locked into place match by match during the last round of the regular season. The Hamilton-based Chiefs sealed first place and the defending champion Blues claimed sixth while Moana Pasifika's best-ever season ended in defeat. The Chiefs and Blues will now meet next weekend in a repeat of last year's final. Matches on Friday decided the top-three places which carry home advantage in next weekend's first playoff round, while Saturday's games sorted fourth to sixth place, setting up a series of competitive semifinals. The second-placed Crusaders will meet the Queensland Reds in Christchurch on Friday; the Chiefs will host the Auckland-based Blues in a contest between neighboring teams Saturday and the ACT Brumbies will face the Wellington-based Hurricanes in Canberra. History shows home advantage is a key factor in Super Rugby playoffs. The last-placed Highlanders gave the first-placed Chiefs an unexpectedly tough time Friday before losing 41-24. The Chiefs scored three tries and rushed out to a 19-0 lead in better than even time. But a lengthy injury break around the 20th minute when Chiefs midfielder Quinn Tupaea suffered a head injury broke the Chiefs' momentum and the Highlanders scored two tries to cut the lead to five points at halftime. The Highlanders trailed by 10 points with six minutes remaining and went close to scoring another try which would have made the final minutes tense. But lock Tupou Vaa'i scored his third try in the 80th minute to inflate the Chiefs' winning margin. While the Highlanders finished last, the losing margin was less than seven points in eight of its 11 defeats. Crusaders leap Brumbies The Crusaders scored a contentious late try to beat the Brumbies 33-31 in Canberra to take second place and consign the Brumbies to third. The Brumbies have now qualified for the playoffs in eight of the last nine full Super Rugby tournaments. They last qualified in first place in 2004, a year they went on to win the title. 'It's been 21 years and every year we start the season and talk about top two as a goal,' coach Stephen Larkham said. 'So yeah, we've missed an opportunity there again. 'It makes it a little bit harder for us. We're going to need a little bit of luck to get a home semifinal but that's out of our control now.' Moana Pasifika falls short The Hurricanes beat Moana Pasifika 64-12 to take fourth place. Moana Pasifika won six matches in a season for the first time, beating the Blues and Crusaders and finishing five points short of the playoffs. The Moana Pasifika players and fans celebrated the end of their season with enthusiasm, led in song by captain Ardie Savea. 'You know, everyone doubted us, God believed in us,' Savea said. 'These boys came together and we brought people together. 'We're not satisfied. Our goal was to win the thing and make the top six but that wasn't meant to be.' The Blues started the last round in seventh place and moved into the playoffs with a 46-6 win over the New South Wales Waratahs who also were in playoffs contention. Their clash with the Chiefs next weekend repeats last year's final in which the Blues beat the Chiefs 41-10. This year, the Chiefs start as firm favorites. The Reds beat the Fijian Drua 52-7 in the final match of the regular season and finished fifth. The Drua won four matches in the regular season but lacked the ability to win away from home. ___ AP rugby:
