TJ Perenara: Biography, Age, Height, Vegan, Baby, Position
TJ Perenara (born 23 January 1992), real name Thomas Tekanapu Rawakata Perenara, is a professional New Zealand rugby union player. He plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and Wellington in the Bunnings NPC. He is also in the All Blacks, the national team of New Zealand.
The livewire halfback became the highest try scorer of all halfbacks in Super Rugby history after scoring his 44th try in a match against the Lions in 2017.
Early Life
| TJ Perenara | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | Thomas Tekanapu Rawakata Perenara |
| Born: | 23 January 1992 (age 32 years old) |
| Place of birth: | Porirua |
| Parents: | Thomas Perenara (father) Fiona Farrow (mother) |
| Nationality: | New Zealander |
| Education: | Mana College |
| Occupation: | Rugby union player |
| Position: | Halfback |
| Height: | 1.84 m |
| Dates joined: | New Zealand national rugby union team (2014), Hurricanes(2012) |
| Relatives: | Tim Nanai-Williams (cousin) Henry Perenara (cousin) Marcus Perenara (cousin) Sonny Bill Williams (cousin) Patricia Farrow (grandmother) Jason Farrow (uncle) |
| Spouse: | Greer Perenara (m. 2019) |
| Children: | Amaia |
TJ Perenara was born Thomas Tekanapu Rawakata Perenara on 23 January 1992 in Porirua, New Zealand.
The Rugby star is blessed with enviable genes – athleticism seems to run in his family. His father, Thomas, played for the Junior Kiwis in 1987, while his mother, Fiona Farrow, played softball for New Zealand.
Career
TJ Perenara was impressive when he played for Mana College in Wellington (2009-2010). He was first discovered at the NZ school side. He won the 2011 Junior World Championship, playing for the New Zealand Under 20.
The All Blacks star is the most-capped Hurricane of all time. Since his first appearance in Super Rugby in 2012, he has played 140 games. In 2015, he won the Rugby World Cup with the New Zealand national team – All Blacks.
In 2016, Perenara won a Super Rugby title with the Wellington-based rugby union team Hurricanes. He made his international debut (first appearance) for his country in 2014 and attended the Rugby World Cups in 2015 and 2019.
After the end of the 2014 Rugby season, TJ made his first appearance for his country in a first test against England. The match saw his first test try for the national team in a 34-13 win against Argentina in 2014. He then started for the first time in his international career in a match against the United States.
His outstanding potential was made visible after scoring eleven tries for the Hurricanes in the 2015 Super Rugby season. He made it to NZ’s victorious 2015 Rugby World Cup squad.
After Conrad Smith left Hurricanes for Pau, Perenara took on the role of the vice-captain. He captained the team many times after the regular captain, Dane, suffered injuries in 2016.
Extraordinary scavenger Perenara scored a try in the 41-0 victory against the Sharks in 2016. He was named the man of the match. At first, he did not make it on the 2016 All-Black Squad but later joined as an injury cover for Tawera Kerr-Barlow.
Although TJ struggled with injury, he scored six tries during the 2018 Super Rugby season. He scored two tries and performed a try-saving tackle in the quarterfinal match against Chiefs.
Perenara received the first yellow card of his international career in a match against France during the 2018 Steinlager series. He played his 50th test for his country, New Zealand, in September 2018.
The competitive TJ Perenara remained on top of his game. He played five tests at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, where his team finished third. He took home the IRP Try of the Year in 2019. Perenara was the haka leader in 51 of 80 tests he played in.
In 2021, TJ took a sabbatical in Japan before he returned to the All Blacks squad. He threw his support behind the Hurricanes Poua after a haka controversy in 2024. He said that he shared similar views to the women’s team.
Personal life
TJ Perenara married Greer Perenara, née Samuel, in a surprise wedding ceremony at Porirua’s Gear Homestead on 12 January 2019. The couple welcomed their first baby, Amaia, in August 2020.
Their friends and family thought they were going to an engagement party but were astonished to learn it was also a wedding.
All Black TJ Perenara has expressed continued support for LGBT issues. In a tweet, he supported the community in response to controversial comments made by Israel Folau on same-sex marriage. He has been on a vegan diet since November 2019.
References
- Phillip Rollo. “TJ Perenara stands with Hurricanes Poua team after haka controversy“. www.stuff.co.nz.
- NZ Herald. “All Black TJ Perenara and new wife Greer join in a haka at their wedding“. www.nzherald.co.nz.
- Marc Hinton. “All Black TJ Perenara on leaving behind his baby girl: ‘It’s going to be so difficult‘”. www.stuff.co.nz.
- www.hurricanes.co.nz/squad/player/tj-perenara
- www.imdb.com/name/nm6698274
