Tabua Tuinakauvadra

Relentless in the contest and impossible to outwork, Tabua Tuinakauvadra has built her game on effort, toughness and an unwavering commitment to her teammates. 

Better known as "Boo", the powerful backrower grew up in Orange, New South Wales, before relocating to Canberra and establishing herself as one of the most influential forwards in Australian rugby. Proud of her Fijian heritage, with family ties to Fiji's Nadroga-Navosa province, Tuinakauvadra first picked up rugby at 17 after a background in netball and quickly discovered a passion for the physicality and camaraderie of the game. 

Since making her Brumbies debut against the Melbourne Rebels in 2022 as cap  #74, Boo has become a cornerstone of the program. Known for her relentless work rate, powerful carries and ability to get through enormous amounts of work on both sides of the ball - she is the type of player every team wants beside them when the game is on the line. 

Her rise continued onto the international stage when she became Wallaroo #200 after debuting against Fiji in Sydney in 2023. Following a breakout WXV 2 campaign in 2024, where she seized her opportunity at No.8 and delivered a string of outstanding performances, Tuinakauvadra elevated her game again in 2025. Playing every Wallaroos fixture throughout the season, she was rewarded with the Rugby Australia Women's Player of the Year award and starred at her first Rugby World Cup, cementing herself as one of Australia's premier forwards. 

Away from rugby, Boo balances elite sport alongside completing a Bachelor of Media and Communications and working in support care. Off the field she enjoys watching anime, collecting Smiski figurines and unwinding with a good meal and a game of Fortnite. 

A naturally upbeat and enthusiastic teammate, Boo brings just as much energy to the changeroom as she does to the field. And while she jokes that she'd like to "abolish AI" and could happily spend hours talking about bizarre AI-generated fruit videos, her teammates know her as someone who always gives everything she has for the team. 

Heading into the 2026 season, Tuinakauvadra remains one of the Brumbies and Wallaroos' most important forwards; tough, dependable and capable of lifting those around her through both her actions and attitude.