Johnsonville halfback Jack Taulapapa will put his plumbing apprenticeship on temporary hold after being selected by Samoa.
Apprentice plumber Jack Taulapapa’s rugby career is suddenly flowing as smoothly as an unblocked pipe.
That’s because two weeks ago the 21-year-old Johnsonville halfback got the sort of phone call most club players can only dream about.
“The phone rang out of the blue and it was Alama [Ieremia],” Taulapapa said after his unexpected callup for Samoa’s end of year tour to Europe.
“He just asked me a few questions, checked up on how I was going, and said they were looking to bring a new halfback into the squad, breed a new guy in.
“He said they had a few options, but were checking up on what I was up to and that was really the first contact I’d had.”
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Taulapapa figured he’d spend the summer finishing off the third year of his four-year apprenticeship with Wellington plumbing company Park & Clarke.
But Ieremia had been carefully monitoring the St Pat’s Town oldboy’s form in Wellington club rugby and clearly liked what he saw.
“It was a bit of a shock. I’d been told someone had put my name forward for Samoa at the start of the year, but I didn’t expect to get a call from the coach,” Taulapapa said.
“It was always in the back of my mind and this year I’ve really given rugby a proper crack, but I’m a plumbing apprentice, so it’s been working all week and just playing at the weekend for J’ville.”
His first task as an international rugby player will be asking for some unexpected leave next month, with Samoa set to play Italy in Rome, followed by tests against Canada, in France and England at Twickenham.
“My boss has been on holiday, so I actually haven’t [told him yet], but he’s back next week, so I’m going to have to spill the beans. I think he’ll be all good, he’s pretty supportive,” Taulapapa said.
His Samoan heritage comes via his father, but he admits he’ll be on a learning curve when it comes to Pacific Island culture.
“I’m probably more of a Kiwi boy with Samoan roots. I see it the odd occasion when I go to my aunties, but I’m not immersed like some of the boys, so it will be really cool to experience that side of things and connect with my heritage.”
Though not in the Lions this season, Taulapapa had played for the Wellington Samoan and Development teams this season, and was being lined up for the sevens by coach Scott Waldrom before his international callup.
Taulapapa played three years in the St Pat’s Town first XV, from 2008 to 2010, where his team-mates included current Lions Matt Proctor and Eric Sione.