The sole member of the 2004 end-of-year All Blacks squad to have played no Super 12 rugby, the Tonga-born prop was a bolter of the highest order, turning his Auckland NPC jersey into an All Blacks jersey in just a few months.

While far from the biggest prop on the scene, Taumoepeau earned praise for his scrummaging play from seasoned front-rowers like Anton Oliver and Greg Somerville.

His brother Tevita played against the All Blacks for the inaugural Pacific Islanders team earlier in 2004.