{{Short description|Samoan rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2018}} {{Infobox rugby union biography | name = Kalolo Tuiloma | image = | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|6|24}} | birth_place = Wellington, New Zealand | height = {{convert|1.95|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|138|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | occupation = | school = Aorere College <br> Timaru Boys' High School | university = | relatives = | position = Tighthead prop | currentclub = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2016–2018, 2021 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Counties Manukau}} | apps1 = 27 | points1 = 40 | years2 = 2018 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Highlanders}} | apps2 = 10 | points2 = 0 | years3 = 2020 | clubs3 = Utah Warriors | apps3 = 5 | points3 = 10 | years4 = 2020 | clubs4 = {{rut|Northland}} | apps4 = 9 | points4 = 0 | years5 = 2022 | clubs5 = Rugby New York | apps5 = 15 | points5 = 25
| years6 = 2022 | clubs6 = {{rut|North Harbour}} | apps6 = 5 | points6 = 5 | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | amatcaps1 = | amatpoints1 = | repyears1 = 2021 | repteam1 = Samoa | repcaps1 = 4 | reppoints1 = 10 | repyears2 = | repteam2 = | repcaps2 = | reppoints2 = | clubupdate = 12 August 2023 | repupdate = 12 August 2023 }}
'''Kalolo E. Tuiloma''' (born 24 June 1990) is a New Zealand born Samoan rugby union player. His position is Tighthead prop.<ref name="181kg and depressed to a pro contract in France: Kalolo Tuiloma's tale">{{cite web | url=http://www.the42.ie/kalolo-tuiloma-grenoble-facing-history-new-zealand-3047202-Oct2016/ | title=181kg and depressed to a pro contract in France: Kalolo Tuiloma's tale | publisher=The 42 | date = 26 October 2016 | accessdate=19 November 2016}}</ref>
==Early career==
Born in Wellington, but raised in the suburbs of Auckland, Tuiloma originally played in the number eight position for Aorere College before heading south to complete his schooling at Timaru Boys' High School where he played in the 1st XV. After school, he played Heartland Championship rugby with South Canterbury in 2013, however soon after his career went on a downward spiral. Unable to crack the {{rut|Canterbury}} ITM Cup team, he turned to food and alcohol and saw his weight balloon to 181 kg.
Seeking help he moved back to the Auckland area to be closer to his family and joined the Bombay Rugby club who were at the time coached by Darryl Suasua. Suasua saw Tuiloma's potential to be a prop forward and began converting him from a loose forward to a front rower. While at Bombay, he helped them to win the McNamara Cup, Counties Manukau's Premier club competition in both 2014 and 2015.<ref name="181kg and depressed to a pro contract in France: Kalolo Tuiloma's tale"/><ref name="From 181kg to starting prop for Counties Manukau">{{cite web | url=http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11713962 | title=From 181kg to starting prop for Counties Manukau | publisher=New Zealand Herald | date = 21 September 2016 | accessdate=19 November 2016}}</ref>
==Senior career==
Tuiloma was first named in the Counties Manukau Steelers squad ahead of the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup where he again linked up with former Bombay coach Darryl Suasua, who was now in charge of the Steelers. Preseason injuries to experienced front row pair Pauliasi Manu and Nepo Laulala opened the door for Tuiloma, who quickly cemented himself as a regular starter in the number 3 jersey. He played all 11 of Counties Manukau's games during the campaign and scored 4 tries, including a memorable hattrick against {{rut|Waikato}} as the Steelers reached the Premiership semi finals before going down to {{rut|Canterbury}}.<ref name="Kalolo Tuiloma itsrugby Player Statistics">{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_38344.html | title=Kalolo Tuiloma itsrugby Player Statistics | publisher=it's rugby | accessdate=19 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="Kalolo Tuiloma scores hat-trick as Counties-Manukau power over Waikato">{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/84494713/kalolo-tuiloma-scores-hattrick-as-countiesmanukau-power-over-waikato | title=Kalolo Tuiloma scores hat-trick as Counties-Manukau power over Waikato | publisher=Rugby Heaven | date = 24 September 2016 | accessdate=19 November 2016}}</ref>
In October 2016, it was announced that Tuiloma would take up a 7-month contract with French side Grenoble where he would serve as an injury replacement until the end of the 2016–17 season.<ref name="181kg and depressed to a pro contract in France: Kalolo Tuiloma's tale"/>
In December 2021 he signed a deal to return to Major League Rugby with Rugby New York for the 2022 Major League Rugby season.<ref name="RUNY deal">{{cite web |title=Rugby New York signs Kalolo Tuiloma and Jack Heighton |url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2021/12/19/rugby-new-york-signs-kalolo-tuiloma-and-jack-heighton/ |website=americas rugby news |date=20 December 2021 |access-date=20 December 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuiloma, Kalolo}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Samoan rugby union players Category:People educated at Aorere College Category:People educated at Timaru Boys' High School Category:Rugby union props Category:Counties Manukau rugby union players Category:FC Grenoble Rugby players Category:South Canterbury rugby union players Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:Highlanders (rugby union) players Category:Utah Warriors players Category:Northland rugby union players Category:Samoa international rugby union players Category:Rugby New York players Category:North Harbour rugby union players Category:Samoan expatriate rugby union players in France Category:Samoan expatriate rugby union players in the United States