Sam Talakai

Sam Talakai is a tighthead prop of proud Tongan heritage whose family has established an enviable rugby dynasty. Talakai’s sister, Adiana, is Wallaroo #182, while first cousins Mako and Billy Vunipola played a combined 147 Tests for England.

A powerful and technically adept scrummager, Talakai has impressed with his dynamic, aggressive ball carrying ability and rock-solid defence. Sam played his first rugby in Year 7 at Sydney’s Waverley College before he finished school with two years in the 1st XV (2008-09). After graduation, Talakai undertook a Bachelor of Sports Administration and Coaching, and played his rugby for the University of Sydney.

In late 2011 Talakai who had started the Shute Shield grand ahead of future Waratah and Wallaby prop Paddy Ryan, was contacted by the then Western Force assistant coach Nick Stiles. “I was in deep talks to join the Force and it looked very likely at one point,” Talakai explained to Rugby News. “Stiles contacted me to say they were keen to have me over in Perth. I had a big decision to make. I’d just turned 20-years-old and after only one year of first grade with Uni, even though I’d done some good things, I still felt like I had a lot more to learn. I backed my scrummaging, but I just felt that I needed another year at that level to prove to myself that I could do it consistently. “I figured that if I was good enough, another opportunity would come.”

A year later Talakai was selected in the Junior Waratahs side to play in the Pacific Rugby Cup and in 2013 he made a rather memorable Waratah debut, against the British and Irish Lions and in opposition to his cousin Mako. After four seasons with the Students, Talakai’s most straightforward route to the inaugural 2014 season of the National Rugby Championship was through the Sydney Stars however a second offer from Stiles, now Brisbane City coach, to cross the Tweed proved too good to knock back. Talakai showed enough over six games with City to win a rookie contract for the Reds’ “elite development squad”. He made his debut for Queensland in Super Rugby’s opening round, against the Brumbies in Canberra.

Unfortunately, the opportunity for higher honours proved tough to attain given the presence of Sekope Kepu, Allan Ala’alatoa and later Taniela Tupou. After 41 games, Talakai left the Reds for the Rebels and later moved to Japan for a COVID -interrupted stint with Suntory Sungoliath.

He returned to the Melbourne in mid-2022 and was called into the Wallaby squad for the Spring Tour after fellow Rebel Pone Fa’amausili injured a hamstring injury in Australia ‘A’’s third match against Japan. Further misfortune, this time a ruptured Achilles to Taniela Tupou, saw Talakai - at the ripe old age of 31y 83d - go on to win his first Test cap, against Wales in Cardiff. In doing so, the Talakais (Adiana and Sam) became just the second brother-sister combination behind Matt and Kristy Giteau to play Test rugby for Australia.

At the post-Test function, Talakai - as part of a Welsh tradition for players on debut - treated the audience to “a rousing rendition” of Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer. Do yourself a favour and You Tube it.

Highlights

2022 Talakai won his first Test cap when he came off the bench to replace Allan Ala’alatoa in the 72nd minute of the 39-34 victory over Wales at Principality Stadium