'Tongan Thor' set for club rugby

Taniela Tupou. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The hype train that is Taniela Tupou, also known as 'Tongan Thor', may slow down next year as the Reds prop looks set for a season of club rugby rather than Super Rugby.

After a YouTube clip of him playing college rugby for Auckland's Sacred Heart 1st XV went viral in May, professional clubs from all over the world were keen to nab his signature.

New Zealand Rugby had hoped to hang on to Tupou, who weighs around 130kg and runs like a back, while European sides were also interested.

But the giant 18-year-old prop, who has family in Australia but grew up in Tonga before moving to New Zealand in 2011, eventually chose to continue his development in Queensland and signed with the Reds in September.

Reds coach Richard Graham, who Tupou has moved in with, told Australian TV station Channel Seven that club rugby would be his lot in 2015.

"What you've seen are raw physical qualities in that YouTube clip and certainly that's a strong starting point, his ability to play rugby," Graham told Seven.

"The true champions have humility, they understand that they need to get better and they need to progress and he's got those qualities."

Tupou, who has joined the Reds for their pre-season training since relocating to Queensland, said it was hard to leave New Zealand.

"It was a tough decision to make, whether to stay in New Zealand or come here to Australia but my mum said: 'Whatever you do, we'll support you'."

He also reiterated his ambition to eventually play for the Wallabies.

"I'll keep working hard and hopefully one day I'll wear the jersey."

The Reds have recruited extensively for next season and have added cross-code athlete Karmichael Hunt and former Wallaby James O'Connor to their squad.