Kuli Faletau will deliver a familiar message ahead of his son Taulupe stepping out to win his 100th Welsh cap against France in Paris this weekend.
“Every game he plays for Wales, I always tell him ‘God be the glory, be humble and keep your feet on the ground’."
It’s a piece of heartful advice based around the family’s deep religious faith and provides an insight into the upbringing which has forged Taulupe’s character.
He has arguably been Wales’ most consistent performer of the professional era, maintaining his high standards pretty much throughout a glittering Test career that began back in 2011.
Much of that is obviously down to natural talent, but you also get the impression it’s a by-product of his grounded personality and the constant quest to improve instilled in him by his father.
Interviews with Kuli Faletau are pretty rare, so it was a pleasure to catch up with him as he prepared to head out to Paris for his son’s big day and to hear him talk with such pride about Taulupe’s achievements.
Kuli, of course, had a fine playing career of his own. He won 20 caps in the second row for Tonga and had spells with Ebbw Vale and Pontypool, only finally hanging his boots up at the age of 45.
It was joining the Steelmen in 1997 that was to ultimately lead to his son becoming one of Wales’ all-time great players.
Ebbw Vale were looking for a second row, so their then skipper Kingsley Jones turned to his father Phil, the Tongan national coach.
That resulted in Kuli heading for Eugene Cross Park, initially on his own, with his wife Vika and their three children - Taulupe, his brother Siua and sister Fipe - remaining on Tofoa in the Haʻapai group of islands.
But this country was soon to become the new family home.
“The people in Ebbw Vale were so friendly and they made me feel so at home,” explains Kuli.
“After the first year, I thought maybe I can carry on playing and I will go back the next season. So I decided to bring my wife and kids over.
“It was a way for us to give our children a better life. I never thought they were going to be playing rugby. The main reason I wanted to bring them here was to be educated.”
But rugby was to become an increasing focus for young Taulupe, who arrived in Wales at the age of seven.
“He started throwing the ball around back home in Tonga,” recalls Kuli. “Then, when he came here, he played rugby with Pontygof School in Ebbw Vale.
“It was when I was player-coach for Tonmawr that he started playing proper rugby for them at under-10s.”
The sport was very much part of everyday life for Taulupe. The family lived in a house at the edge of Eugene Cross Park and that was to become a base for the numerous Tongans playing rugby in Wales.
“It became like a community when we got together,” says Kuli.
“You had Salesi Finau at Llanelli, Maama Molitika played for Bridgend, Dave Tiueti was at Neath. There was Josh Taulmalolo. We were the first to come over. We played together for Ebbw Vale, then he moved to Bridgend.
“When they all finished their games, they would come over and spend the weekend at our house in Ebbw Vale. That’s why they called it the Tongan Embassy.” You can read the full story of the Tongan Embassy here.
The children of the various players would also spend time together, which saw Taulupe practising his rugby with two lads by the name of Mako and Billy, the sons of then Pontypool hooker Fe’ao Vunipola.
“They ended up in the same school as Taulupe and my oldest son for a time,” says Kuli. “They would be down the house, throwing the ball around.”
Taulupe’s rugby journey saw him progress via New Panteg RFC juniors and Filton College in Bristol, then gaining senior experience with Cross Keys before making his regional debut for the Dragons in November 2009.
His potential was immediately evident and less than two years later he was a Welsh international. Now, after a celebrated Test career, the century beckons for the 32-year-old.
“When he won his first cap against the Barbarians in Cardiff, I never thought he was going to reach this milestone to have 100 caps for his country,” says Kuli.
“He has put in a lot of effort and hard work over the years. We are all so proud of what he has achieved.”
Throughout all the days of glory, Taulupe has remained level-headed, respectful and softly spoken, with his rugby speaking for him.
“I don’t really want him to talk too much!” says Kuli, with a chuckle.
“The upbringing back in Tonga is Christian. Our religion and faith is very important to us. When we came here, we tried to discipline our kids to be humble.
“Even when he plays for Wales, I keep telling him to be humble all the time, not like a star. Every game, I tell him ‘God be the glory, be humble all the time and keep your feet on the ground.’”
As for matches that stand out for him from Taulupe’s career - which includes three Lions tours - Kuli goes back to the early days with Wales.
“I went to New Zealand to watch the 2011 World Cup,” he recalls.
“I have big memories of that tournament.
“I always remember the famous game when they played against France in the semi-final. I think they should have won that game. They would have been through to the final then and who knows. But, at the end of the day, they lost. I still talk about that game with him.”
There have been some challenging times for Taulupe in the last five or six years amid a number of injuries. Once again, Kuli has turned to his faith for words of advice.
“I was lucky. I played rugby until I was 45 and I didn’t have any bad injuries,” says the former second row.
“When Taulupe moved to Bath, he got a lot of injuries there. I encouraged him all the time, saying that is part of the game. It is a physical game. That is the reality. It is very hard sometimes. You can have a bad injury, but you have to accept it.
“I have a strong faith in God. If you have a bad injury, that is part of the game. God will help you and he will protect you and keep your body safe. I always told Taulupe ‘Keep faith in God and he will bring you back to what you were at the start of your career’.”
Speaking further about the attitude he has encouraged in his son, Kuli continues: “Sometimes he has lost a game and all the time I tell him to just forget it, just move on and keep working hard for the next game.
“If you make a mistake, just forget about it. If you think about it too much, it’s going to lead you to make more mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes, but just forget about it and try and move on with the game.”
Happily, the injury issues are now in the past for the Cardiff No 8, while his form is good. He’s fit and firing again, capping a typically classy display against Italy last Saturday with a try as reward for his tireless graft.
Now it’s time for his landmark appearance at the Stade de France, where he will have plenty of family support on hand for the big occasion.
Who will win France v Wales? Have your say here
His Pontypool-based dad, who works in security for the council in Ebbw Vale, doesn’t tend to go to that many matches, generally preferring to watch on TV to study the action closely ahead of a debrief with his son.
But he will be in Paris this weekend, along with his wife and daughter, with Taulupe’s wife and their two boys also going over.
“There will be lots of family there to cheer him on,” says Kuli.
“Since Taulupe has played for Wales, I have maybe been to the Principality Stadium about eight or nine times.
“When I watch TV or even when I am at the game, I never jump up. I just want to watch the game.
“After he plays, we have a chat about rugby and what he still needs to improve and what mistakes he has done in the game.
“That’s why I generally prefer to stay at home and watch the match on TV. When the game is finished then, all the 80 minutes is in my head.
“So I know what we are going to be talking about on Sunday or Monday about things he needs to improve. We do it like that.
“But this time I have decided to go to France because it is going to be a big day for Taulupe. I am very, very proud of him and all the family is as well. It will be a big thing for the family.”
That's what the Faletaus are all about. Family, being humble and keeping the faith.
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