Tongan Thor dreams of Wallaby gold

HE is the New Zealand schoolboy sensation who is being chased by four countries, two codes, at least 11 clubs and mastercoach Wayne Bennett, but Taniela ‘Tongan Thor’ Tupou has held a lifelong dream to play for the Wallabies.

The 18-year-old became an overnight internet sensation this week after footage of his unbelievable hat-trick in first XV rugby was posted on YouTube, leading to a deluge of offers from rugby and league teams.

A 135kg prop, who runs faster than the wingers on his Sacred Heart College team with a fend and footwork, Tupou is now the most in-demand teenage rugby player on the planet.

NRL sides Newcastle Knights and New Zealand Warriors want to sign him, along with five French rugby clubs, one English rugby club, as well as Kiwi Super Rugby franchises the Chiefs and Blues.

While Tupou has been prevented from speaking to media by his manager Daniel O’Loughlin, the Daily Telegraph tracked down his Australian-based brother Criff, who revealed that his younger brother has grown up aspiring to wear gold.

“Always growing up, he wanted to play for the Wallabies or the Kangaroos,” said Criff Tupou, a miner based in Tasmania.

Asked why, when nearly all Kiwi schoolboys grow up dreaming of becoming an All Black, Criff responded: “Because the Wallabies always have a lot of Tongans in their team, and the All Blacks don’t have too many”.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/d...-1226919341664

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7Z3BLHqM-Q