NZ Under-20 Profile: Vince Tavae-Aso

Above: Vince Tavae-Aso?playing for the Petone club in Wellington last weekend against Hutt Old Boys Marist in their famous McBain Shield match. Photo by Thomas Tupuivao.?

Vince Tavae-Aso?has a strong chance of appearing in a second IRB Junior World Championships in June.

Tavae-Aso has already garnered an impressive resume of representative rugby. He has played for the New Zealand Schools', Auckland and been reselected into the under-20's squad for the short tour of Australia in May.

This came as no surprise to astute observers of the game. Aso himself though was taking nothing for granted.

“I knew I had to work hard to make the team again. I had to put my head down and work again,” Tavae-Aso said.

This year’s tournament will be held across four venues in Italy; Parma, Viadana, Calvisano and Cremona. England heads into the month-long tournament as favourites having defended their title last year and also retained the Six Nations in 2015.

Tavae'Aso’s experience will be invaluable to those players selected for the first time, particularly given that the tournament is away from home.

He says greater organisation and team-bonding will be major weapons for a successful campaign.

“Being more organised and also mixing and mingling with everyone in the team and getting to know everyone better will help us, especially being in Italy this year."

Tavae-Aso impressed in the New Zealand tourney in 2014. He was switched from the midfield to the wing and started all five games. He scored two tries, including a 40-metre runaway in the semi-final verses South Africa.

“It was my first crack at the 20’s and I wanted to prove to myself that I could make it and tick that box,” Tavae-Aso said.

His skill and potential in 2014 saw him lured south to Wellington. He explains why he moved to the capital:

“There were a few wider training squad contracts for the Chiefs and the Blues, but the Hurricanes offer was very good. Chris Boyd, our 20’s coach, called me up and offered me a two-year contract.”

"I really wanted to get learn from the likes of Ma’a (Nonu) and Conrad (Smith).”

Tavae-Aso originally made his name with the Ponsonby club in Auckland. He started playing footy on the frosty fields of Western Springs aged five.

St Peter's College in Grafton fostered his rugby growth further.

A proud rugby school, boasting the talents of All Blacks Francis Saili and Patrick Tuipolotu in recent times, Tavae-Aso was selected as a second-five eighth for the New Zealand Schools' in 2012.

In 2013, he made his Auckland debut and in two years played 10 games and scored five tries for the province as they reached the semi-finals twice.

Ten players from the 2012 New Zealand Schools team: Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki), Jamie Booth (Manawatu), So'otala Fa'aso'o (Auckland), Jackson Garden-Bachop (Wellington), Tevita Li (North Harbour), Josh Renton (Otago), Sam Thomas (Auckland), Trinity Spooner-Nera (Hawke's Bay) and Regan Ware (Waikato) have gone onto to play ITM Cup rugby, but out this group Aso has been one of the most impressive.

Only Li has played Super Rugby, otherwise Tavae-Aso has earned more games than anybody else in this group.

Leaving Auckland seemed strange given this fact. Tavae-Aso goes into greater detail about how difficult it was to leave the 'city of sails.'

“I hadn’t moved out of home before and my parents weren’t too keen.

“My parents are my number one fans. They have helped me and I owe it to them. Without them I wouldn’t be able to what I do,” Tavae-Aso said.

His decision to link up with the Hurricanes and Petone club in the Hutt Valley has been a success so far.

“It’s certainly been a good move; it’s helped me as a person off the field."

Tavae-Aso is studying a Bachelor of Human Services at Victoria University.

Aso gained his first taste of Wellington club rugby on Saturday playing for his uncles club, in the McBain Shield clash with Hutt Old Boys Marist, a massive occasion on the club rugby calendar.

“It was massive, I didn’t realise how big the game was until they told me on the day.”
Though Petone lost in front of a big crowd, Tavae-Aso made a strong impression and hopes to keep moving up the rugby ladder.