How an 18-year-old Tongan is about to change Australian Rugby Union

His name is Taniela Toupo, he is 18 years old, weighs 135 kilograms and plays as a Prop. He has the ball skills of a Fly-Half and the pace of a Winger. At the moment, he is probably the most sought after player, under the age of 20. He has teams from England, France, Japan, New Zealand and Australia chasing his signature.

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But Toupo has picked Australia. At the moment, no club has signed him and he is testing the waters so to speak. Read: seeing who will pay the most for him.

Toupo rose to fame in May this year after becoming an internet sensation.

This put Toupo on the radar of clubs all over the year and stirred internet debate over where Toupo would decide to play, and eventually which country he would represent in international competition.

Despite the 'Tongan Thor' rising to public fame in May, Reds coach Richard Graham claims that the Reds have had their sights set on him after the team's tour of New Zealand.

His reasoning behind picking Australia is admirable. Toupo believes his family will be best suited to Australia. This is despite Australia's struggling rugby union programs. However, this may all be about to change.

Toupo is going to bring the explosiveness to rugby union that it is currently lacking. Thousands more will dabble in the fifteen man code, just to watch a Prop  score a hundred metre try, squashing those who dare to stand in the way. Hopefully, Toupo will lead as an example and bring other bright stars who are willing to play rugby union at the highest standard to Australia, rather than the much more dominant New Zealand.

Taniela Tupo is about to breath life back into Australian rugby union.

Toupo's story is a great example of how online communities can create interest, brining them into mainstream media. It wasn't until May that he shot to fame, however Rugby clubs (and their media) have known about his potential since April. It wasn't until people started talking about him on Rugby forums that he stepped into the spotlight. This is just one instance of how an online crowd's intrests effect mainstream media.