The South Sydney Rabbitohs have signed three highly sought after young players across both rugby codes with centre/winger Tyrone Taukamo and back-rower Cruz Topai-Aveai signing with the Rabbitohs until the end of the 2019 season and halfback Adam Doueihi until the end of the 2018 season.
Taukamo, 17, is a South Sydney junior who has represented the Australian Schoolboys Barbarians this year, and NSW at schoolboys and age group levels across Rugby League and Rugby Union, and still holds a number of junior athletics shot put records alongside NRL players Tepai Moeroa and Jamal Idris.
Taukamo was one of the most sought after young players across both Rugby League and Rugby Union this year.
Topai-Aveai, 17, was selected in the New Zealand Schoolboys Rugby Union squad in 2016, and was also selected in the New Zealand under 17s Rugby League merit team.
Topai-Aveai has been a stand out in New Zealand as a hardworking, strong running forward who has excelled in his representative football for both Rugby League and Rugby Union.
Doueihi, 18, has played with the Balmain Tigers SG Ball side for the past two seasons, however his highest honours this year came representing the Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union team from St Patrick’s College, Strathfield.
Doueihi also played for the NSW CIS team in Rugby League for the past two years, the NSW Schoolboys 1st XV and NSW ISA 1st XV in Rugby Union in 2016, and is also an accomplished junior cricketer and touch footballer.
Rabbitohs Head Coach Michael Maguire says young players like Taukamo, Topai-Aveai and Doueihi add further depth to the Club’s squads.
“These three young players were highly sought after by other clubs and codes so we’re very happy to see them join our Club,” Coach Maguire said.
“Our coaching and recruitment staff see plenty of upside in Tyrone, Adam and Cruz and we’re looking forward to working with them and developing their skills as they look to earn selection in our under 20s team, and then create more competition for spots in our NRL team next year.
“It’s also great to have Tyrone, as a South Sydney Junior, wanting to chase his dream as a Souths NRL player and to be bringing in more junior representative players from both Rugby League and Rugby Union to our Club can only be a good thing for South Sydney.
“We’re all looking forward to working with them this pre-season.”
Biographies
Tyrone Taukamo
Date of Birth
31 January 1999
Place of Birth
Sydney, NSW
Height
185cm
Weight
115kg
Position
Centre/Wing
Junior Club
Matraville Tigers, Newington College
Rep Honours (League)
NSW CIS (2013-2014)
Emerging NSW Blues Origin Squad (2013)
U15s Australian Merit Team (2013)
Rep Honours (Union)
Australian Schoolboys Barbarians (2016)
NSW Schoolboys 1st XV (2016 – Australian Champions)
NSW Schoolboys 18s 2nd XV (2015)
NSW Schoolboys 16s 1st XV (2015)
NSW 18s Rugby 7s (2015 – Australian Champions)
Sydney GPS Rugby Champions – Newington College (2015)
NSW Schools Team (2014)
Adam Doueihi
Date of Birth
5 August 1998
Place of Birth
Eastwood, NSW
Height
190cm
Weight
92kg
Position
Five-Eighth/Halfback
Junior Club
Strathfield Raiders. Dundas Shamrocks
Rep Honours (League)
NSW CIS U18s (2015-16)
Rep Honours (Union)
Australian Schoolboys 1st XV (2016)
NSW Schoolboys 1st XV (2016); NSW ISA 1st XV (2016)
Cruz Topai-Aveai
Date of Birth
23 January 1999
Place of Birth
Christchurch, New Zealand
Height
192cm
Weight
107kg
Position
Back Row
Junior Club
Celebration Lions, Christchurch
Rep Honours (League)
New Zealand U17s merit team (2016)
Rep Honours (Union)
New Zealand Schoolboys squad (2016)
