After a successful junior career where he won world titles at Under-19 and Under-21 level, Tuitupou has quickly replicated that success in the senior ranks.

His All Blacks call-up in 2004 came after Tuitupou featured in two NPC titles with Auckland and a Super 12 championship with the Blues.

A fearsome tackler in the midfield, Tuitupou's power belies his diminutive stature which has often led opponents into mistakenly underestimating him.

He is also a strong ball carrier and invariably breaks the advantage line from first phase.

Tuitupou once trialled for the Canberra Raiders professional rugby league team in a pre-season game against the Warriors and was offered a contract after that trial but chose to stay with union.