Hawkes Bay Today
  • Hawke's Bay Today home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Havelock North
  • Central Hawke's Bay
  • Tararua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Gisborne

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Hawkes Bay Today

Rugby: Teenage back busts barriers

By Shane Hurndell
Hawkes Bay Today·
22 Feb, 2016 04:30 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Deijah Tuliau completes a passing drill as Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's talent development co-ordinator Jason Shoemark looks on. Photo / Duncan Brown

Deijah Tuliau completes a passing drill as Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's talent development co-ordinator Jason Shoemark looks on. Photo / Duncan Brown

When it comes to busting a defensive line or halting an opposing midfield attack Hawke's Bay rugby player Deijah Tuliau thrives.

This week the MAC club's 13-year-old midfield back-winger will bust down a barrier or two when she becomes the first female to be inducted into the Hawke's Bay Rugby Academy since a then future world champion Black Fern Amy Williams and future Cook Islands Sevens rep Te Maari MacGregor had a two-season stint in 2005 and '06.

"It's pretty exciting. I hope to gain some good skills and a positive attitude," Tuliau said last night.

"I see the selection as a huge step towards my long-term goals of playing for the Hawke's Bay Tuis and the Black Ferns. If the opportunity to play for the New Zealand Women's Sevens team at an Olympic Games came along I would jump at that too," Tuliau said.

The Hastings Girls' High School Year 9 student who has played for the MAC club since she was 5 was a logical choice for the academy. Tuliau scored six tries in five games for the third-placed Hastings West team at last year's Ross Shield tournament in Hastings.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"That tournament was the highlight of my career to date," Tuliau recalled.

Along with her brother, flanker T-vahni Tuliau, Tuliau, was one half of the first set of unisex twins to be selected for the tournament. Tuliau said her brother had no qualms about her getting the jump on him in terms of provincial honours.

"I showed T-vahni my letter of congratulations and he was really supportive."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A former Hastings West D and C grade rep, Tuliau, praised the coaching she has received from her father Sanele "Narley" Tuliau and uncle Vili Malaitai who are both long-time premier club players. When she isn't training or playing rugby Tuliau is likely to be found playing basketball, netball or touch.

During a stint in Australia two years ago she was on the verge of state selection in touch.

A big fan of retired All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, Tuliau has yet to decide on a career option out of rugby at this stage.

"For the moment professional rugby player sounds pretty good."

Discover more

Sevens: Pirate add Baker trophy to loot pile

14 Feb 04:20 PM

Rugby: Club takes its medicine after talks

16 Feb 04:00 PM

Rugby: Champs raring to go says Dixon

19 Feb 04:52 PM

Magpies fans pick out ideas for games

23 Feb 01:30 AM

She is already making the necessary sacrifices in the nutrition department.

"There is a big emphasis on vegetables at the moment," she added.

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's talent development co-ordinator, former Magpies captain Jason Shoemark, said Tuliau will be inducted into the academy's year one group.

"Like all players she will be assessed at the end of the year when a decision will be made on whether or not Deijah will return with the year two intake. We're hoping she completes four years at least."

Shoemark pointed out her selection is part of the union's plans to boost the profile of women's rugby in the Bay and lift the standards of potential future Tuis.

"Deijah was outstanding at last year's Ross Shield tournament and we have no doubt she has enormous potential."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Premium
Hawkes Bay Today

Black Ferns: Tui pair on the big bird for matches in South Africa

Premium
Hawkes Bay Today

Two CHB wins on finals weekend at McLean Park

Hawkes Bay Today

Club rugby stars announced in Magpies NPC squad


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Premium
Premium
Black Ferns: Tui pair on the big bird for matches in South Africa
Hawkes Bay Today

Black Ferns: Tui pair on the big bird for matches in South Africa

The two started their senior women's rugby for Hawke's Bay while still at school.

17 Jul 04:00 AM
Premium
Premium
Two CHB wins on finals weekend at McLean Park
Hawkes Bay Today

Two CHB wins on finals weekend at McLean Park

15 Jul 06:00 PM
Club rugby stars announced in Magpies NPC squad
Hawkes Bay Today

Club rugby stars announced in Magpies NPC squad

15 Jul 06:00 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Hawke's Bay Today e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Hawke's Bay Today
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP