100kg player, 7, only allowed to play five half games
Photos have emerged of an under-8s rugby league player dubbed the 'gentle giant' towering above his pint-sized teammates. Â
Vaka Tuitupou is just seven but weighs 100kg - and is hard to miss in the team photograph, towering over the rest of the St John's Eagles under-8s.
Not that they would be complaining - with the caption of the photograph praising the team's dominant win over Chester Hill 26-6 - no doubt with a little help from their biggest player.
The young Samoan boy made the news this week after a video of him tearing through his opponents with ease was posted on social media.
The footage shows Vaka playing against the Berala Bears in Sydney over the weekend. Â
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Photos have emerged of Vaka Tuitupou, an under-8s rugby league player dubbed the 'gentle giant', towering above his pint-sized Sydney teammates
The young Samoan boy (centre) made the news this week after a video of him tearing through his opponents with ease was posted on social mediaÂ
In response to the footage, New South Wales Rugby League General Manager BJ Mather told Daily Mail Australia the game was now limiting how often Vaka Tuitupou plays.
'He has played in five games throughout the season and in each of those matches, he has participated in two quarters,' he said.
'The child has been described as a gentle giant, and they are monitoring his development throughout the season.
'NSWRL provides opportunities for teams to participate in weight and age competitions during the season and post regular season competitions.'
However, the video has shocked rugby league officials and sparked calls from concerned parents to change from age to weight divisions.
The boy easily palms his opponents off one-by-one as he runs the length of the field to score a try.
The chairman of St Johns Eagles, Nasser Matta, has described the boy as a 'gentle giant'.
'We just follow the rules,' Mr Matta told The Daily Telegraph.
'This boy's a gentle giant. He doesn't just run through the opposition to hurt other kids.'
Vaka (centre) is just seven but weighs 100kgs and has been described as shyÂ
The footage, posted to Facebook, has been viewed over 95,000 times.
One user said: 'Boy what you doing playing against 8-year-olds?'
Canterbury Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle spoke to the junior rugby league team to check the boy's age.
'We are certain the boy is under eight,' Ms Castle told the paper, adding that the case is an example of a challenge facing the league.Â
In recent years the NRL has considered changing junior rugby league from age to weight divisions to prevent smaller children from being hurt.
The idea is currently being trailed at games in Sydney's west.
Video was taken over the weekend during a rugby league match in Sydney (match pictured)
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