Provincial Rugby Piutau joined
Counties Manukau during the
2006 Air New Zealand Cup. Lining up next to former
All Black Tana Umaga in midfield, Piutau was in the
2010 ITM Cup for the Steelers. He started every game for Counties, and was one of the club's top performers over the course of the season. As a reward for his efforts, he was named the 2010 Counties Manukau Player of the Year.
Super Rugby Piutau was included in the
Chiefs Wider Training Group for the
2010 Super 14 season, and made his Super Rugby debut as a substitute late in the season after a rash of injuries hit the Chiefs backs. For the
2011 Super 15 season, Piutau was signed by the
Highlanders and emerged as a key squad member, making 13 starts and scoring 3 tries. In
2012, he was limited by injuries and made only 5 appearances. Following the season, he left New Zealand to sign in Japan.
Japan For the 2012–13 season, Piutau signed with
Yamaha Jubilo of the
Top League in Japan.
English Rugby Wasps He signed for
Wasps RFC on 4 February 2016 for the remainder of the 2015/2016 season. He made his debut in the 64–23 victory over
Saracens F.C. on 14 February 2016. After returning from his loan spell at Wasps, Piutau returned to Japan, and
Yamaha Jubilo.
Bristol Piutau signed for
Bristol in the
Greene King IPA Championship, initially on a short-term deal, which was later extended to a permanent contract, in December 2016. Piutau became a regular starter at Centre and was known for his on and off field leadership. He played 66 times for Bristol and was present for the Bears' promotion to the
Premiership in 2018 and in the successful
European Challenge cup campaign in 2020. Piutau announced that he would leave Bristol at the conclusion of the 2020/2021 season.
Return to Japan On 7 June 2021, Piutau left Bristol in England at the end of the 2020-21 season, as he returned to Japan to sign for
Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks in the
Japan Rugby League One competition.
International career Piutau has 43 international caps for Tonga and this includes 19 as captain. His first cap was in the 2011 27-12 defeat against Fiji where he made his debut off the bench. His final game for Tonga was in the 31-19 victory in the
Rugby World Cup pool C match against
the USA in which Piutau scored a try and a later conversion. His final figures in his international career were 6 tries, 1 conversion totalling 32 points. == References ==