Cooley Faletau will send a family message before his son Taulupe leaves to earn his 100th cap for Wales against France in Paris this weekend.
Every game he plays for Wales I always say to him, ‘God be the glory, be humble and stand your ground’.
It’s heartfelt advice that draws on the family’s deep religious faith and gives insight into the upbringing that shaped Taulupe’s character.
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He has been perhaps Wales’ most consistent player of the professional era, maintaining his high standards for most of the glittering Test career that began in 2011.
Much of this is obviously down to natural talent, but it also comes across as a by-product of his ingrained personality and the constant desire to improve that his father instilled in him.
Interviews with Kuli Faletau are quite rare, so it was a pleasure to meet him as he prepared to travel to Paris for his son’s big day and hear him speak with such pride about Taulupe’s achievements.
Kula, of course, had a good playing career. He earned 20 second-row caps for Tonga and played for Abbey Vale and Pontypool before finally hanging up his boots aged 45.
It was joining the Steelers in 1997 that his son became one of Wales’ greatest players.
Ebbw Vale were looking for a second line so their then captain Kingsley Jones turned to his father Phil of the Tonga national team.
This led to Cooley heading to Eugene Cross Park, alone at first, while his wife, Vika, and three children, Taulupe, brother Siua, and sister Phipe, remained in Tofoa in the Haapai archipelago.
But soon this country would become a new family home.
“The people at Ebbw Vale were very friendly and made me feel right at home,” explains Cooley.
“After the first year, I thought maybe I could keep playing and come back next season. So I decided to take my wife and kids there.
“For us it was a way of giving our children a better life. I never thought they would play rugby. The main reason I wanted to bring them here was to get an education.”
But rugby became an ever-increasing focus for the young Taulupe, who came to Wales aged seven.
“He started playing ball at home in Tonga,” recalls Cooley. “So when he came here he played rugby with Pontygof School in Ebbw Vale.
“It was when I was player-manager at Tonmaur that he started playing real rugby for them at under-10 level.”
Sports were a big part of Taulupe’s daily life. The family lived in a house on the outskirts of Eugene Cross Park and it would become a base for many Tongan rugby players in Wales.
“When we got together, it became a community,” says Cooley.
“You had Salezi Finau at Llanelli, Maama Molytic was at Bridgend, Dave Tiueti was at Neath. There was Josh Thaumalolo. We were the first to arrive. We played together at Ebbw Vale, then he moved to Bridgend.
“When everyone finished their games, they would come to our house in Ebbw Vale for the weekend. That’s why they called it the Embassy of Tonga.” You can read the full story of the Embassy of Tonga here.
The sons of several players also spent time together as Taulupe coached rugby union with two boys named Mako and Billy, sons of then-Pontypool hooker Feao Vunipola.
“They ended up in the same school as Taulupe and my oldest son,” says Cooley. “They were walking home, throwing the ball.”
Taulupe’s rugby journey saw him progress through juniors at New Panteg RFC and Bristol’s Filton College before gaining senior experience with Cross Keys before making his regional debut for the Dragons in November 2009.
His potential was immediately apparent and less than two years later he was a member of the Wales national team. Now, after an illustrious Test career, the 32-year-old turns a century.
“When he won his first game against the Barbarians in Cardiff, I never thought he would reach 100 caps for his country,” says Cooley.
“He put in a lot of effort and hard work over the years. We are all very proud of what he has achieved.”
Throughout his glory days, Taulupe remained calm, respectful and soft-spoken, his rugby doing the talking for him.
“I really don’t want him to talk too much!” Cooley says, laughing.
“Education in Tonga is Christian. Our religion and our faith are very important to us. When we got here, we tried to teach our children to be humble.
“Even when he plays for Wales I still tell him to be humble, not a star. In every game I tell him, “Give God the glory, be humble at all times and stand your ground.”
Looking back on highlights of his Taulupe career, which includes three tours with the Lions, Cooley recalls his early days with Wales.
“I went to New Zealand to watch the 2011 World Cup,” he recalls.
“I have good memories of that tournament.
“I always remember the famous match when they faced France in the semi-final. I think they should have won that game. Then they would go to the final, and who knows. But, in the end, they lost. I still talk about that game with him.”
Over the past five or six years, Taulupa has had a tough time with a series of injuries. And again Cooley turned to his faith for advice.
“I was lucky. I played rugby until I was 45 and didn’t have any serious injuries”, says the former second-row player.
“When Taulupe moved to Bath he suffered many injuries there. I kept encouraging him, telling him it was part of the game. It’s a physical game. This is the reality. Sometimes it’s really hard. You may have a serious injury, but you have to accept it.
“I have a lot of faith in God. If you have a serious injury, that’s part of the game. God will help you, protect you and preserve your body. He always told Taulupe: “Keep faith in God and he will bring you back to who you were at the beginning of your career”.
(Image: Cooley Faletau)
Speaking further on the attitude he fostered in his son, Cooley continues, “Sometimes he loses a game and I keep telling him to forget it, move on and keep working hard for the next game.
“If you make a mistake, forget it. If you overthink it, it will make you make more mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, but forget it and try to continue with the game.
Fortunately, injury problems are a thing of the past for the Cardiff number 8, although his form is good. He is fit and shooting again, ending a typically elegant performance against Italy on Saturday with a try as reward for his tireless passing.
Now is the time for his big appearance at the Stade de France, where he will have the full support of his family for the big occasion.
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His father, from Pontypool, who works as a council security guard in Ebbw Vale, doesn’t go to as many games and usually prefers to watch them on television so he can study the action carefully before facing his son.
But he will be in Paris this weekend with his wife and daughter, as well as his wife Taulupe and their two children.
“There will be a lot of family there to support him,” says Cooley.
“Since Taulupe played for Wales, I’ve probably been to Principality Stadium eight or nine times.
“When I’m watching TV or even when I’m at a game, I never jump. I just want to watch the game.
“After he plays, let’s talk about rugby, what he still needs to improve and what mistakes he made in the game.
“That’s why I usually prefer to stay at home and watch the game on TV. When the game ends, I have the entire 80 minutes in my head.
“So I already know what we’re going to talk about on Sunday or Monday about what needs to be improved. This is how we do.
But this time I decided to go to France because it will be a big day for Taulupe. I’m really, really proud of him and the whole family too. It will be a great family event.”
That’s what Faletaus is all about. Family, be humble and keep the faith.
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Source: Wales Online
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
