CHARLES PIUTAU
S DADDY rips off yet another growling face, behind the camera little Grace cannot help but clap away. Something is going on. She’s not quite sure what but she’s loving it.
In fact, fittingly, it’s a family affair here. Wife Lineti watches on while Charles Piutau gets his photo taken with the flag of Tonga, having just relinquished his grasp on a team jersey. Only eldest son Zion isn’t in the room, as he naps upstairs.
That family feel is the reason we are in Bristol: to discuss the desire to represent your heritage and one day pull on a shirt you feared you might never get the chance to wear.
Piutau is an All Black. In 2013 he made his full Test debut against France in New Plymouth, coming off the bench for Rene Ranger in a 24-9 triumph. He would tot up a further 16 caps between then and July 2015. Then he left for Europe. But Auckland-born Piutau also represented Tonga U20 in 2010, before switching to black the year after for U20s, then sevens. His parents are from Tonga, and older brother Siale has 43 caps for the ‘Ikale Tahi. And through recent years he has openly talked of his yearning to pull on the red jersey. Still just 30, the Bristol Bears full-back feels he has plenty to
