The whānau of a man who died in a car accident in Albury, about 81km from Timaru, before Christmas are mourning “a promising young rugby player” and a “great young man”.
Cale Tompkins Tairua, 18, was killed after a serious crash on Cave- Albury Rd, State Highway 8, at 9.20pm last Thursday.
Police said the serious crash unit had done a scene examination and inquiries into the circumstances were ongoing.
In a social media post, South Canterbury Rugby described Tairua’s death as “a loss to the rugby whanau far too early.”
“Far more than a promising young rugby player, we remember a great young man.”
An obituary on social media said Tairua was an adored and loving son, a dearly loved brother and best friend.
“Gorgeous forever young lad taken far to soon,” a comment on the obituary said.
South Canterbury Rugby Football Union president Jeremy Sutherland told The Press Tairua was a player with a gift.
Sutherland had known the youngster since at least 2011, when he began playing for the Mackenzie JAB under-6 team.
“I was one of the coaches for an opposition team that even in those early times saw that he had a gift,’’ Sutherland said.
“His team (coached by Kim Jordan) was unbeaten for four years. By the time he played in the under-8 grade many coaches were devising methods to ‘get around’ Cale on the field.’’
He said Tairua was “pretty much’’ first on the list for the JAB South Canterbury representative teams in under-11, under-12 and under-13 and was always the pack leader.
“Covid knocked the under-14 grade out in 2020, but he returned in 2022 for the under-16 rep team while a member of the TBHS 1st XV.’’
Sutherland said Tairua’s small home district of Albury had something of a dark veil cast over it since [last] Thursday night.
“Cale was not only an excellent rugby player but a university student, an excellent swimmer, an enthusiastic hunter, and a fine young man,’’ he said.
A Givealittle page had been set up to support Tairua’s family.
- Stuff