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Son of famous father wanted by Welsh regions
By Jon Newcombe
Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti’s form for Championship leaders Coventry this season has attracted the interest of two Welsh regions.
The powerhouse centre was born in Neath while his father Dave Tiueti, the former Tonga international, played for the Welsh All Blacks.
Tiueti moved to England with his family when he was five but the desire to play for Wales has never left him.
Scarlets and Ospreys are thought to be keeping tabs on the 23-year-old who moved from Nottingham to Coventry, another of his father’s former clubs, last summer.
The former Cardiff Met student has started four Championship games this season, at 12 and 13, and was named the club’s player of the month for October.
He was also picked in the Championship Team of the Week for his performance at outside centre in the 17-15 win at Caldy before being an ever-present in the Coventry midfield recent block of Premiership Cup matches.
Tiueti joined Nottingham directly from Cardiff Met University and, 12 months later, is quickly seeing the benefits of being a fully professional rugby player for the first time, which could now lead to him stepping up into the United Rugby Championship.
“Going from part-time rugby into being full-time has been a massive change which has already been really positive for my development,” he told the club's website.
“It really helps you build bonds with other players and also the coaches have the time to really help you with specific aspects of your game.
“I also feel a lot fitter as I’m now training a lot more than I did as a part-timer. Work rate is a massive part of what we’re about as a squad and the fitness really helps with that.
“I was a community coach in the day when I was playing at Nottingham and training in the evening after coaching all day could be quite hard whereas I get a lot more downtime here.”
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Latest Comments
A new hard edge to Wallaby rugby that sorts out who is "all in" versus those in two minds. Razor should take note and forget his push for off-shore selections and infatuation with Mounga.
Go to commentsI like the idea of Elrigh Louw as a long-term option for captaincy. Honestly, it’s hard to say who else could take on that role after Siya Kolisi, as 2027 is still a long way off. In my opinion, Siya will likely go to the Rugby World Cup in 2027 unless injury or a significant dip in form prevents him.
Between now and 2027, I think the captaincy will be shared among several players as Siya’s playing time is carefully managed—a strategy the Springboks have been implementing for some time. Younger players like Salmaan Moerat might get opportunities to captain in tier-two matches, as we’ve already seen. Other emerging talents like Jordan Hendrikse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu could also be considered, though the Boks have traditionally favored forwards for captaincy roles. Damian Willemse is another possibility, but he first needs to play his way back into the team.
My personal feeling is that there should be an effort to appoint a black captain to replace Siya. His captaincy has been pivotal in broadening rugby's appeal across racial groups in South Africa over the past 7 years. More so than any other period in the last 30 years.
Form permitting, Moerat is a strong contender, given his leadership qualities and pedigree. However, some might view such an appointment as political, potentially overlooking Moerat's real potential and the broader significance of such a decision.
Other players with leadership potential have been mentioned in the past, such as Phepsi Buthelezi. However, it remains to be seen whether the former DHS star will secure a permanent spot in the Springbok lineup. The first Zulu captain of the Springboks? Would be nice, but unlikely given the competition for the 8 jersey.
One positive aspect of the uncertainty around Siya’s long-term successor is the way the Springboks have emphasized shared leadership among senior players. This approach has lessened the pressure on a single captain and allowed the team to thrive collectively.
When Siya was first appointed, there was skepticism about his leadership credentials. And whether he was the best 6 in the country. The shared leadership strategy gave him the support and platform to grow into the exceptional captain he is today. And he's proven critics wrong about his abilities as a player.
I find it interesting that he's playing at 8 for the Sharks. Rassie has made a habit of taking 36ers and above to the World Cup, players who bring options to the table like Frans Steyn, Schalk Brits, Duane Vermeulen and more recently Deon Fourie.
All of SA wants to see Siya win a 3rd World Cup. That's for sure.
And if he goes, he'll lead.
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