Rugby Australia have confirmed that prop Taniela Tupou was the victim of a “snatch and run” attack in Johannesburg on Saturday night.
The Wallabies are in South Africa ahead of their Rugby Championship opener next weekend and reports indicate that Tupou and a group of players were walking back to their hotel, the Sandton Sun, when the front-rower had his phone grabbed by a man.
Rugby.com.au report that Tupou sustained some cuts after attempting to pry the phone back off the man during a struggle in a car.
The Queensland Reds tighthead has made remarkable strides over the last few years and has made the full transition from viral school sensation to fully fledged international.
With a mass exodus of players scheduled for after the Rugby World Cup, Rugby Australia are reportedly tabling a sizable offer to keep Tupou on their shores with the Sydney Morning Herald reporting last month that the 23-year-old has been offered a four-year-deal with a salary ranging from 800,000 to 1 million AUD per year.
Nick Phipps, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley and Christian Leali’ifano have all been linked with moves abroad, while Reds captain Samu Kerevi will depart for Japan after the World Cup, as Rugby Australia look to rebuild their future and look towards the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
