George Naoupu Explained

George Naoupu
Birth Date:1983 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Christchurch, New Zealand
Weight:124kg (273lb)[1]
Spouse:Sene Naoupu 2011 - 2019 Separated
Relatives:Julianna Naoupu (sister)
Ru Position:Flanker, Lock
Ru Clubyears:2010–2011
2016–2017
Ru Proclubs:Kobelco
Harlequins
Ru Provinceyears:2004–2005
2006
2007–2009
2009–2010
2011–2016
Ru Province:Canterbury
Tasman
Hawke's Bay
Connacht
Connacht
Ru Provincecaps:9
9
27
14
103
Ru Provincepoints:(5)
(0)
(20)
(15)
(30)
Ru Provinceupdate:29 Jul 2016
Super14years:2008–2009
Super14caps:11
Super14points:(5)
Ru Nationalyears:2001
2002
Ru Nationalteam:New Zealand Schools
New Zealand U19 New Zealand U21
Repsevensyears1:2005
Repsevensteam1:New Zealand
Ru Coachyears:2017–2019
Ru Coachclubs:Wicklow (player-coach)

George Naoupu (born 4 September 1983) is a former professional rugby union player from New Zealand. He played at number 8, as a flanker or in the second row.[2]

Naoupu's sister, Julianna Naoupu, is a Samoan netball international.[3]

Club career

Career in New Zealand

Naoupu's professional career began in 2004 with Canterbury, where he played for two seasons. He then joined Tasman Makos for a season before moving to Hawke's Bay. He made the breakthrough to Super Rugby in 2008 with the Highlanders in his second season at Hawkes Bay.[4]

Move to Ireland

Naoupu left Highlanders in 2009, moving to Irish provincial side Connacht. Joining ahead of the 2009–10 season, Naoupu made his debut for the side in a 2009–10 European Challenge Cup game with Worcester Warriors on 12 December 2009.[5] He made his league debut in the province's 2009–10 Celtic League game against Irish rivals Munster on 26 December that year, starting the game and playing the full 80 minutes.[6] Naoupu played another seven league games for the side, starting in all of them and scoring a try.[7] In Europe, Naoupu played six of Connacht's eight games as they reached the last four, and scored two tries against Olympus Madrid.[5] He started for Connacht in the semi-final on 29 April 2010, where they were narrowly beaten by a Jonny Wilkinson-inspired Toulon side.[8]

Naoupu departed Connacht at the end of his first season. He moved to Japan, having agreed a deal with Top League side Kobelco Steelers.[9]

Japanese rugby

Naoupu joined Japanese side Kobelco Steelers for the 2010–11 season. During his time at the club, the team finished fifth in the 2010–11 Top League, missing out on the title play-offs by one position, and were level on points with Suntory Sungoliath who came fourth.

Though the Steelers failed to make their league's title play-offs, they did reach the 48th All Japan Rugby Football Championship through a wild card play-off. The Steelers reached the semi-finals, but were narrowly beaten 37–33 by Suntory, who went on to win the final.

Return to Connacht

Following one season in Japan, Naoupu returned to play for Connacht in the 2011–12 season.[9] When he returned the Celtic League had been renamed the Pro12, and Connacht had qualified for the Heineken Cup, Europe's top club competition, for the first ever time. Naoupu made his first appearance since returning in the opening game of the 2011–12 Pro12, starting against Benetton Treviso on 3 September 2011, and playing the full 80 minutes.[10] Naoupu made his first appearance at the top level of European rugby on 11 November 2011, when he started against Harlequins in Connacht's opening 2011–12 Heineken Cup game. Naoupu also started in all five other games the province played in the competition, including Connacht's first ever win at that level, in the return game with Harlequins on 20 January 2012.[5] He made a total of 17 league appearances for the season, starting in all the games he played.[7]

The 2012–13 season saw Naoupu play fewer games in total, but put in several strong performances. He played 14 games in the 2012–13 Pro12, starting all but one, and scoring four tries.[7] Over the course of the season, Naoupu faced competition from Academy graduate Eoin McKeon for the number 8 position. In the 2012–13 Heineken Cup, he started two games and came on as a replacement in another.[5] In January 2013, it was announced that Naoupu had been offered a contract extension on the back of his good form, agreeing a deal to stay with Connacht until the end of the 2014–15 season.[11]

In the following season, Naoupu was again vying with McKeon for the starting position on the team. Naoupu started the first two games of the 2013–14 Pro12 against Zebre and Cardiff Blues, and was used as a replacement in the next two.[7] The 2013–14 Heineken Cup saw Naoupu start in half of Connacht's games and come on as a replacement in the other three. He scored his first ever European try on 19 October 2013 against Zebre.[5] Naoupu suffered an injury in February 2014 however, which ruled him out for the rest of the season and he ended up making a total of 14 league appearances, with just six of these coming as starts.[7]

Retirement from Professional Rugby

Naoupu announced his retirement from professional rugby in July 2017. Naoupu joined the amateur club, Wicklow RFC, as player/coach for the 2017–18 season .[12]

International

Naoupu represented New Zealand at both schools and under 19 level. Naoupu has also played for his country in rugby sevens, meaning he cannot qualify for through residency as he is committed to New Zealand under IRB regulations.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sean O'Brien 15/1/2014 | Connacht Rugby Website. www.connachtrugby.ie . https://web.archive.org/web/20160422222826/http://www.connachtrugby.ie/three-connacht-players-named-in-ireland-u20-squad/sean-obrien-1512014/ . 22 April 2016.
  2. Web site: George Naoupu : Rugby Union : Players and Officials . ESPN Scrum . 18 June 2014.
  3. News: Super 14 player set to boost Connacht ranks . Galway Advertiser. 26 November 2009. Linley. Mackenzie.
  4. Web site: Player Statistics Naoupu George . It's Rugby . 18 June 2014.
  5. Web site: Player Archive: George Naoupu . ERC . 17 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033247/http://archive.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_archive.php?player=92465&includeref=dynamic . 4 March 2016 . dead .
  6. Web site: Munster Rugby 35 - 3 Connacht Rugby . RaboDirectPRO12 . 17 June 2014 . 26 December 2009.
  7. Web site: Connacht Squad Index: George Naoupu . RaboDirectPRO12 . 17 June 2014.
  8. Web site: Connacht Rugby v Toulon . ERC . 17 June 2014 . 29 April 2010 . https://archive.today/20140617232329/http://archive.ercrugby.com/matchcentre/12257.php . 17 June 2014 . dead .
  9. Web site: Connacht sign Ulster duo as Naoupu returns . RTÉ Sport . 17 June 2014 . 7 January 2011.
  10. Web site: Benetton Treviso 9 - 11 Connacht Rugby . RaboDirectPRO12 . 17 June 2014 . 3 September 2011 .
  11. Web site: George Naoupu among quartet to sign new Connacht deals . BBC Sport. 17 June 2014 . 9 January 2013.
  12. Web site: Former Connacht star leaves Harlequins to become player coach of Wicklow RFC. www.the42.ie. 22 February 2018. 1 August 2017.
  13. Web site: George Naoupu 11/12 | Connacht Rugby Website . 2013-04-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111204154806/http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2010010582077/george-naoupu-1112 . 4 December 2011 . dmy-all .