IF Sam Ulufunoa's honesty is anything to go by expect him to be an asset to the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team in years to come.
"I've come down to the Bay from Auckland to work on my work-ons. Sacrifices and nutrition are two of my big ones ... up
Rugby: Lock wins battle with takeaways
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Havelock North lock Sam Ulufonua is this week's club rugby MVP. Photo/Duncan Brown
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He had three years in the Auckland Grammar 1st XV and made the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2014, his final year at school. That team, which beat their Aussie counterparts 34-24 in Wellington, had Magpies head coach Mark Ozich as one of the co-coaches.
"Mark is one of the reasons I'm down here. I also believe I'll have a better chance of getting more Mitre 10 Cup game time ... I just have to keep playing well for my club and keep going up from here," Ulufonua said.
"Mason Emerson and Jonah Lowe were in the New Zealand Secondary Schools team with me and Marino Mikaele-Tu'u was in the Barbarians Secondary Schools team so I know a few of the Bay boys. I'm in the Hawke's Bay Academy squad which trains every morning so that is new way of meeting new people too."
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Considering rugby wasn't his priority during his school days Ulufonua did well to have three years of 1st XV rugby which ended with a National Top Four semifinal loss to Scots College of Wellington. Athletics was his priority at school and at the 2014 national secondary school athletics championships he won gold in both the shot put and discus.
His personal best for the shot put is 17.98m and for the discus it is 59m. When Ulufonua left school rugby became the priority and last year he made the Auckland Mitre 10 Cup squad and played in two games - losses against Waikato and North Harbour.
"I was surrounded by super stars in the forward pack like Patrick Tuipulotu, Akira Ioane and Chiefs loosie Taleni Seu," Ulufonua recalled.
He is happy with Havelock North's two wins from as many games in the Nash Cup but like his teammates Ulufonua is expecting a tough encounter against another unbeaten team, Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports, at Anderson Park on Saturday.
On the work front Ulufonua spends 20 hours each week as a teacher aide at Hastings Boys' High School. He works with former Maori All Black, Hurricanes and Magpies loosie Karl Lowe and the school's 1st XV coach Tafai Ioasa, a former Magpies loosie and All Black Sevens player.
"There is a good team of teachers at the school and plenty of rugby talent through the grades," he added.
When he isn't working or training for rugby Ulufonua likes to spend time with family and relax on the PlayStation. While he's on the PlayStation he isn't being lured to the nearest takeaway joint.
Best & fairest
■ Havelock North v MAC: 3, Sam Ulufunoa (Havelock North); 2, Johnny Ika (MAC); 1, Jacob Stephenson (Havelock North).
■ NOBM v Napier Technical: 3, Chris Johnston (NOBM); 2, Jordan Faia (Tech); 1, Ellery Wilson (NOBM).
■ Taradale v Pirate: 3, Francis Ah Hum (Taradale); 2, Niki Martin (Taradale); 1, Al Momoisea (Pirate).
■ Tamatea v Central: 3, Everard Reid (Tamatea); 2, Tom Parsons (Central); 1, Lincoln McClutchie (Tamatea).
■ Hastings Rugby and Sports v Clive: 3, Danny Toala (Hastings); 2, Ben Hamelink (Hastings); 1, Mason Emerson (Hastings).
Leaderboard: 4 points: Everard Reid (Tamatea). 3: Mason Emerson, Danny Toala, Aleki Vuki (all Hastings), Chris Johnston, Liam Edwards (both NOBM), Sam Ulufunoa, William McGoon (both Havelock North), Francis Ah Hum, Angelo Mufana (both Taradale).