Tongan by birth, but now selectable after five years of residence in France, the massive Bayonnais Tevita Tatafu, opposed on Saturday to Bordeaux-Bègles, his probable future club, ticks all the boxes to become the right pillar of the Blues of tomorrow.
In American sport, we would speak of “prospects”, these athletes who have not yet reached the highest level of their sport but have the potential to achieve it. On the rugby scale, Tevita Tatafu, 22 years old on October 13, is one of them.
To the point that a first selection is almost promised, barring injury or suspension, to this colossus of 1.83 m and 150 kg, during the next tour in November against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina, after a first internship with the France group in June.
“Tevita Tatafu reached a milestone last season,” summarizes his manager at Aviron Grégory Patat. It has all the characteristics for modern rugby. He’s explosive with the ball, he’s dominant, he brings intensity to every collision, hurting his opponents… He’s a super interesting anchor for our team. And let’s not forget his young age. Already having this potential and this playing time at this age bodes well for an interesting future.”
– Tevita Tatafu, in the footsteps of Atonio –
Still a minor when he arrived on the banks of the Nive in 2019 on the recommendations of his uncle Toma Taufa today at UBB, Tatafu trained with the hopefuls without being able to play a single match.
Originally a left pillar, he was placed on the right by his then coach François Navarron, before exploding in this position with the first team (59 matches played, 37 starts).
“Tevita Tatafu is a little ball of happiness,” enthuses her teammate Baptiste Heguy. He is a joker while being discreet. He has a big heart, including on the pitch. He likes to challenge everyone.”
Once hampered by his +cardio+ and his 150 kilos, he is now pushing his limits, like a certain Uini Atonio, the massive right pillar of the Blues that Patat knew in La Rochelle: “We broke his candy with his weight but when we let him go with that, he was better in his head and his rugby. We took this option with Tevita, while limiting it to a minimum.”
– Imbroglio around his transfer –
“When I see some telling me that Tevita Tatafu is too big… Nothing to worry about if he +decalbombs me+ (explodes, Editor’s note) the guys in a scrum and puts three of them on the ass by taking the ball,” smiles Camille Lopez, the international fly-half who has also had weight problems in his career. “If he’s good like that, that’s the main thing.”
On Saturday, the Chaban-Delmas stadium in Bordeaux will have a keen eye on the phenomenon, which should normally strengthen the ranks of the UBB next summer and thus find its uncle and perhaps its cousin and perfect namesake Tevita Tatafu who chose to represent Japan. But the matter is far from being confirmed.
Although under contract until 2026 with Bayonne, Tatafu’s new agent and the Gironde club relied on a clause in his contract allowing his release for 500,000 euros. The same one which caused the departure of another Bayonne pillar, Matis Perchaud, for the UBB this summer.
Problem is, this clause no longer exists according to Basque President Philippe Tayeb who does not want to give any gifts to his former manager Yannick Bru – who launched Tatafu as a pro in 2021 – especially after their joint adventure at Rowing ends in 2022 and their public altercation last April at Jean-Dauger during the last opposition between the two teams.
© Agence France-Presse
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