Koula Tukino

Koula Tukino

Full name	Siaki Kietaka Paokoula-O-Lupepau'u Tukino
Date of birth	(1977-07-11) 11 July 1977
Place of birth	Tonga
School	Wesley College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loose forward / Lock Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2003–04 World Fighting Bull () 2005–06 Amatori Catania () 2006–07 RC Toulon () 2007–11 FC Grenoble () 2011–15 US Romans () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1995–96 Counties Manukau 4 (5) 1997 South Canterbury 8 (0) 1998–01 Counties Manukau 34 (55) Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 1999–01 Chiefs 21 (5) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2000 New Zealand "A" 3 (0)

Siaki Kietaka Paokoula-O-Lupepau'u "Koula" Tukino (born 11 July 1977), also known as Kietaka Talasinga, is a New Zealand former professional rugby union player.

Biography

Born in Tonga, Tukino was educated at Auckland's Wesley College.

Rugby career

Tukino, a loose forward and lock, trained at the New Zealand Rugby Academy and played most of his provincial rugby at Counties Manukau. He competed with the Chiefs in the Super 12 from 1999 to 2001. After taking some time away from the sport for personal reasons, Tukino returned to professional rugby in 2003 at Japanese club World Fighting Bull. He played in European professional rugby from 2005 to 2015, with Amatori Catania in Italy, then RC Toulon, FC Grenoble and US Romans in France, where he now coaches.