By Jeff Hampton
Tasman rugby fans are fuming their star forward has been nabbed by Canterbury on the eve of a crucial semi-final for the Makos, and is now just on the red and blacks bench.
Canterbury’s won out because he's their player on loan to Tasman, the red and blacks have first call and want him for their premiership semi-final against Taranaki tomorrow.
“This is my home and this is where I am and there's an agreement and I’m a man of my word, so I’m just wanting to get on that field and play my game,” Taufua says.
Taufua, who's played 10 matches for Tasman, was called south because of injuries to Canterbury looses Matt Todd and Nasi Manu, although Todd’s now on the mend.
But to make matters worse for Tasman, their star man has only been named on the Canterbury bench.
Tonight his Tasman team-mates play Otago in a championship semi-final.
Tasman chief executive Andrew Flexman is a bit put out about not having him playing for them.
“It's a little galling to see he's riding the pine. He’ll get some game time - how much I don't know, but we definitely would have had him starting for us in Dunedin tonight without a doubt.”
There's plenty of buzz about Taufua, no doubt he'll be in demand in the future as well.
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