Born: 28 June, 1984 – Auckland Test record: 1 Test (2008) – 0 points Tours: 2008 World Cup
The nephew of New Zealand and Western Samoa Test reps Paddy and Tony Tuimavave, skilful forward Evarn Tuimavave played one match for the Kiwis at the 2008 World Cup during a 138-game NRL career.
The Point Chevalier and Richmond junior was just 18 when he came off the bench in the minor premiership-winning Warriors’ last two regular-season matches in 2002. He represented Junior Kiwis that year alongside the likes of soon-to-be NRL teammates Thomas Leuluai and Jerome Ropati.
Big and mobile with superb ball-playing ability, Tuimavave suited the Warriors’ freewheeling style but did not nail down a permanent first-grade spot until 2006, a season in which he earned a New Zealand A call-up to face an Australian Invitational side.
After missing just four NRL games in three seasons and featuring in back-to-back finals campaigns for the Warriors, Tuimavave – 18th man for the 2007 midyear Test against Australia – was a late replacement for the injured Jeff Lima in the Kiwis’ 2008 World Cup squad. He started at prop in the 36-24 pool win over England but was not chosen in the eventual champs’ line-up for the semi-final and final.
Tuimavave was cut down by injury in 2009, only playing in the Warriors’ last six games of a wretched campaign, and subsequently joined Newcastle Knights, who he turned out in 33 NRL matches for from 2010-12. His professional career wound up after spending the 2013 season with Super League outfit Hull KR, leaving the club at the end of the year on compassionate grounds.
