Alex Tulou
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| Full name | Alex Tulou | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | March 21, 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Faga'alu, American Samoa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 3 1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 114 kg (251 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Keyla Tulou | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alex Tulou (born 21 March 1987,Faga'alu, American Samoa) is a rugby union footballer, currently playing in the top French professional rugby competition, the Top 14, for Montpellier. He joined Montpellier in 2011. His usual position is number eight or Flanker.
Career
Alex started his school boy rugby at Hastings Boys' High School in the province of Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He was quickly identified as an up-and-coming young player with tremendous strength, ball skills and speed. He was coached by Bevan Lynch, Trevor Will and in his earlier grades Tim Shaughnessy, Mike Holder and Karl Jones. All of whom had had significant experience and contributions to the Super 8 Schools competition in New Zealand. A great young man and role model for young players at the school.
Tulou started his career with the Taranaki in the National Provincial Championship and the Hurricanes in the Super 14.[1] During this time he had a trial for the New Zealand 7's team.[2]
In 2010 he signed a two-year contract to play for Bourgoin[3] in the Top 14. He played 15 Top 14 matches (9 starts and 6 as a replacement) for the club in the 2010/11 season, scoring 3 tries, and 4 matches in the European Challenge Cup, scoring one try.
Following this he signed for Montpellier to replace Jérôme Vallée after he was forced to retire due to injury.[4] He played a further 8 matches for Montpellier in 2010/11 but failed to add to his try tally.
During the 2011/12 season, Tulou established himself as a first team regular for Montpellier, starting 19 of the teams 27 league games at Number 8 and was a replacement for 5 more. He scored 9 tries, including the team's first try in their end of season playoff defeat to Castres.[5] Tulou also played in his first Heineken Cup matches, scoring one try.
In September 2012 it was announced that Tulou had signed a new contract to keep him at Montpellier until 2015.[6]
Notes and references
- ↑ "Alex Tulou" (in French). Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ↑ "Tietjens names NZ sevens trial squad". 27 October 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ↑ "Le Samoan Alex Tulou signe à Bourgoin" (in French). 20 May 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ↑ "MHR: Officiel pour Tulou" (in French). 8 February 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ↑ "La fiche de Alex Tulou (3ème ligne)" (in French). Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ↑ "Montpellier : Alex Tulou jusqu'en 2015" (in French). 7 September 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2013.