Patrick Tuifua

Patrick Tuifua was selected for France under-20s in 2024 while playing provincial rugby in New Zealand. He was the only player in the squad not based in France. The call came because his uncle, the former professional Laurent Simutoga, knew the coach and sent him video, and because a Canal+ commentator watching the New Zealand provincial championship made the same recommendation.

He plays in the back row for Toulon, is 1.91m and 113kg, and is 22.

Born in New Caledonia and of Wallis and Futuna descent, he started at eight at a Nouméa club his father Jean-Philippe runs. At fifteen he went to New Zealand for a youth tournament, was spotted there, and was offered a scholarship to Lindisfarne College in Hastings.

Hawke’s Bay took him into their senior squad in 2023 and he made five appearances in a season the province won the Ranfurly Shield and reached the provincial final. He also had a trial at Toulon that October and trained with the Hurricanes.

His two under-20 matches for France were both starts. Against Ireland he scored, made eighteen tackles and was named man of the match in a defeat, and he started the win over Scotland a week later before going home. A kneecap injury that June cost him the junior world championship.

He stayed in New Zealand through 2024 chasing a Hurricanes contract, trained with them in pre-season without being signed, and moved to France in April 2025 on a three-year deal.

The reason he chose the Var is that his sister is a police officer in Marseille and lives nearby. He rejoined three of his France under-20 teammates at the club.