The ex-All Blacks Sevens and NZ U20s flyer waiting in the wings for Blues

Caleb Tangitau may have only just turned 21 but he’s already lived out some incredible rugby dreams that have come as a welcomed surprise to the young man himself.

Every rugby player starts out as a kid with a dream. Tangitau’s “big rugby head” father introduced the youngster to the sport at just four years of age and he hasn’t looked back since.

Tangitau has represented New Zealand at senior level on the sevens circuit and with the ‘Baby Blacks’ at the World Rugby U20s Championship, and that’s not even everything.

This is the story of a young man with a dream and a burning passion to both play and compete with some genuine superstars of the game, including some world-class All Blacks.

“They’re your dreams but you don’t actually think that it’s gonna happen,” Tangitau told RugbyPass earlier this month. “It all just happened so quickly. (I’m) grateful for it.”

After starring in the prestigious Westlake Boys High School First XV on Auckland’s North Shore, the rising star was given the opportunity to don the black jersey on the international stage.

Tangitau hadn’t played much sevens until his final year of high school at Westlake. But after starring with the New Zealand Condor sevens team in 2020, the All Blacks Sevens came knocking.

The then-teenager was offered the chance to trial with the star-studded New Zealand side and was later given a contract to join the likes of Sam Dickson and Joe Webber in the squad on a full-time deal.

Tangitau was starstruck but confident; excited and hungry. But the young Kiwi with a dream was just hopeful of eventually playing “one tournament” for the All Blacks Sevens.

Tangitau did a bit more than that.

As a Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens medallist, and doing so before his 20^th birthday, the former SVNS flyer described the experience as both “pretty crazy” and “unreal.”

“Me and my dad used to watch sevens a lot when I was little so I’d see like Tim Mikkelson and those sort of players were playing,” Tangitau explained.

“Me and my dad had talks say, ‘Would you do sevens if it came?’ I’d be like, ‘Oh I don’t really know.’ I’d never really played sevens until my last year of high school so we didn’t really think it was on the table for me.

“Luckily played schools sevens for NZ and then the year after, so my first year out of school, they asked me to come in for a couple of weeks just as a trial sort of thing.

“It all sort of happened so fast,” he added. “I was just looking at it like, ‘Hey, if I don’t play the best I’m still young.’ I went in with that mindset… I can keep growing. I don’t really feel too much pressure, luckily.”

Caleb Tangitau making it look easy @Dubai7s 😮#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSDXB pic.twitter.com/4um9IRdDgB

— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) November 22, 2023

Tangitau became a regular with the New Zealanders on the now-called SVNS Series. While the Olympics is an option for rugby players nowadays, the speedster has ventured in another direction.

The New Zealander has gone all-in on the 15-player game.

Selected as part of the New Zealand squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa last year, Tangitau was more than impressive in the black jersey.

Playing alongside other promising prospects in Aotearoa, including the likes of Macca Springer and Noah Hotham, the winger scored five tries in four matches.

“That team is full of great players. I just thought we didn’t quite have quite enough time as a group to do well. Definitely think we had the players,” he said.

“The experience was cool as. Just to match up against other players around the world my age just to see where I’m at, am I better than these guys?

“It was a cool experience. I think we were away for seven weeks all up. It was fun though, it was cool. Just an amazing experience.”

It was during last year’s National Provincial Championship season that Tangitau, along with his mum and agent, decided to charge ahead with rugby’s more traditional format.

While the Olympics in Paris were just around the corner, the opportunity to make his mark in a talented squad with the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific proved too good to turn down.

It was a tough decision but one that Tangitau seemed comfortable with.

From ➡️ to ⬅️ in no time@nz_sevens strike first through Caleb Tangitau…#Dubai7s | #HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/heZPaGDDJt

— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) December 3, 2022

“It would have been at the end of NPC last year where we had no clue what I was going to do,” the Auckland outside back revealed.

“We just thought it was the best thing for my future to stay with the Blues. It was real tough.”

When Tangitau spoke with RugbyPass one afternoon earlier this month, the speedster had just gotten home from Blues training.

Joining the youngster at those sessions are genuine A-listers in the world of rugby union, including All Blacks Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Dalton Papali’i and more.

“That’s another crazy thing. I thought I was starstruck going to Tim Mikkelson and stuff and then I came over to the Blues and I’m looking at my inside and it’s Rieko (Ioane) defending with me.

“As a young guy watching that, it’s crazy. But then you see they’re just regular dudes seeing if I need help and all that sort of stuff.

“I’m sort of used to it now.”

The Blues wing has only played one Super Rugby match. Tangitau was named to come off the pine away to the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park on April 4 last year.

It’s been a while since, but Tangitau has continued to chip away behind the scenes – working hard for another opportunity.

Tangitau impressed during the Blues’ pre-season trip to Japan, and the former New Zealand U20s representative also crossed for a five-pointer in the 38-24 win over the Chiefs in Takapuna.

But until another opportunity comes, the winger is focused on working away behind the scenes and learning from a fairly handy mentor and friend in All Black Caleb Clarke.

“If I had to choose someone it’d probably be Caleb, Caleb Clarke,” he added when asked if any All Blacks had taken him under their wing.

“I’ve gotten pretty close with him. When we went over to Japan he was my roomie for the two weeks so we’ve always had those little talks, asking if I need help. Also when I made my debut he was my roomie as well.

“We’ve gotten pretty close so I’m lucky to learn from him as an All Black.”