The Canterbury Bulldogs have signed young New Zealand talent Roy Tatupu.
Tatupu, the nephew of former New Zealand and Western Samoa international representative Tony Tatupu, was a member of the Warriors’ inaugural ARL team in 1995. He is regarded as one of New Zealand’s best all-round athletes.
Tony played 67 games for the Warriors over two stints, as well as with the Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity in England, before retiring in 2001.
Roy, who stands at 190 cm and weighs 94 kg, has been named to New Zealand’s open men’s volleyball squad for 2024. He has also shown promise in rugby union, having attended the Blues rugby academy in Auckland.
Ginnen Group Sports manages the athlete, who has represented New Zealand in softball, won the top sportsman award at Mt Albert Grammar in 2023, and was named the best overall sportsperson of the year at the College Spot Auckland awards.
He has decided to pursue a career in rugby league and has signed a two-year contract with the Bulldogs. He has already begun training.
Phil Gould, Bulldogs director of football, told the publication that he is already impressing.
“Roy is going OK in the week or so he has been here – he has shown some really good signs at training,” Mr. Gould said.
It’s unclear what his contract with the Bulldogs is at this point, but given his age, he’ll most likely be on a pathway deal with the possibility of progressing to a development deal in 2025.
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