Ben Tapuai

Ben Tapuai (born 19 January 1989, in Brisbane) is a professional rugby player for Bath Rugby, who play in the Aviva Premiership. Tapuai grew up in Melbourne and is of Samoan heritage.

In 2005 Tapuai was part of the World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament in Japan.

In 2006 Tapuai was part of the Australian Schoolboys squad that toured Fiji and New Zealand, along with Robert Horne. Both Tapuai and Horne continued in the Schoolboys in 2007, and Tapuai was selected at inside centre (No.12) ahead of fellow Queensland representative James O'Connor.

In 2008 he represented the Australian Under 20s in Japan, and played in the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship in Wales. His Under-20 team mates included Liam Gill and Chris Feauai-Sautia.

Tapuai is a product of Sunnybank. In 2011 Tapuai he and his brother Rex Tapuai formed a strong partnership at inside (No.12) and outside centre (No.13) to help the 'Dragons' win the final of the Queensland Premier Rugby competition.

In 2009 Tapuai made his Super Rugby debut for the Reds against the Crusaders while still in the Queensland state academy program. He played four games for the Reds in that season.

He played few games for Reds in 2010, and coach Ewen McKenzie said Tapuai had struggled to get through 80 minutes and needed to work on his fitness. Regarding Tapuai's versatility, McKenzie said, "He can play No.10, 12 and 13. He's probably better suited to No.13 but it depends on the centre combination."

In 2011, under a full contract he played in 10 of the Reds 18 games, including the final, and formed a strong combination with Wallaby centre Anthony Fainga'a.

In 2011 Reds acknowledged Tapuai's emerging talents - strong defence, straight ball running and accurate left boot, and he received the Reds award for Most Improved Player.

Later in 2011, Tapuai made his debut for the Wallabies, in Australia's 60-11 win against the Barbarians at Twickenham. This was a non-cap match, and he went on as a replacement for Berrick Barnes. A week later he made his test debut for Australia against Wales, in Cardiff, called on to replace Adam Ashley-Cooper.

In 2012 "Tapuai started in the Reds first eight games ... until he sustained a broken collarbone in a tackle by Stormers centre Juan de Jongh in Brisbane." Against the Waratahs, in Round 18, Tapuai left the bench to replace Faingaa in the 78th minute.

In 2012 here was speculation Tapuai would sign with the Melbourne Rebels for 2013. He said, "I was contemplating going, but at the end of the day I stuck at it and stuck with the Reds ... but in saying that it would be awesome to go back to Melbourne and to finish off there, but I haven't even thought of that."

On 2 November 2016, Tapuai left Western Force to join English club Bath in the Aviva Premiership with immediate effect.