January 9, 2026 • 7 mins
The Wellington Phoenix have confirmed the signing of All Whites defender Bill Tuiloma on a two-and-a-half year deal.
It's a long-awaited homecoming for the 30 year old, who has played more than 200 professional matches in France and the United States.
Tuiloma will have to wait for the A-League's mid-season registration window to open next Wednesday before he is able to make his club debut.
He told Piney he’s excited to get on the pitch and hopefully perform for the team.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
EDB Wellington Phoenix confirmed the signing of All Whites defender
Build Touloma on a two and a half year deal.
Delivery is good and as he goes for New Zealand
and Bill Toilama. It's the man ten point delivery from
Joe Bell Build to Iloma, Notts Homer's third goal for
New Zealand or elevation on that one, but the hen
(00:32):
it comes out from to Ilama. It's a second goal
from a corner for Bill to Iloma. What a night
he's head in Doha. It's a long wait at homecoming
for the thirty year old defender. He's played more than
two hundred professional matches in France and the United States.
He will have to wait for the A League's mid
season registration window to open. It's not that far away.
(00:53):
It opens on Wednesday. It means he can't play tomorrow
for the Phoenix against Adelaide, but will be eligible to
make his debut next weekend. So tomorrow it's Adelaide and
then on that's tomorrow week they face Sydney. That will
be his first opportunity to play for his new site.
I caught up with Bill Tuilama on Thursday to find
(01:15):
out how the move had come about.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yeah, I mean I came across the came across the
table with my agent and we really talked about it.
You know, it took us a couple of weeks so
thinking about it and processing it and you know, seeing
where the best option was to go to. And Phoenix
will on top as well, and especial with them being
in mid season. And I was excited just to you know,
make that decision on Christmas Day and come home.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
So you'd had the contract in front of you, you'd
had the offer, and it was on Christmas Day that
you made the call.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Yeah, it was on Christmas Day.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
I work.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
I spoke with Chief I think before a couple of
days before on Christmas, and you know, I wanted to
think about it and you know, process things and take
it easy and talk to my talk to my dad
and my parents and see, you know, you know if
I was you know, the right move and work up
on Christmas and you know, tell myself, look, it's the
right movie, it was the right option. Let them Let
(02:08):
my agent know that it's kind of we're going to
do and missus Shawan girl Seawan girl to you know,
let's do the signing. So very excited.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
So you've landed you here, You've had a few training
sessions with the team. Does it feel like a team
that will be comfortable for you to fit into?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, definitely, definitely got these talent here, the way they
want to play, the way the way the Chiefs wants
to play and having the highlane, it's it's great. I
know it's something that I'm used to. I've played, I
played that formation as well, so I'm very excited to
get on the pitch and hopefully perform for the team.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
And it's twenty twenty six now World Cup year. How
important is it for you as a as an all
watch aspirant. You want to be on that plane to
be playing football at the moment.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah, definitely, it's it's it's one of my dream goals
to go to the World Cup and playing these games
is very important for the national team coach to watch
and you know it's good for them to see players
that are playing and yeah, so I just want to
perform and hopefully score some goals and hopefully helped up
the team to climb up the ladder.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
I was trying to work out the last time you
would have played a club game in New Zealand. Would
it have been for White TARKETI would that have been
the last club team you played for here? Or was
there another one before you went to Marseille.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
I think I think my last club game was Burko.
I think it was Burker eighteen years old, just turn
I was about to turn eighteen, and then I left. Yeah,
I remember.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
So it's some career you've forged in Europe and in
the United States. I mean, how different is Bill Tuyloma
from the eighteen year old who took off to France
to chase his football and dream?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Yeah, I mean football I've learned when I was eighteen
gone to mar Sille. I did those those years there.
I've learned so much on the pitch of playing against Piet,
playing with Piet and the Au brothers, Andre Steve Madonna,
the captain and goalie. There was just a massive, massive
team of just maturity in that squad, and I just picked.
(03:57):
I picked all the things I could learn off each
player didn't medal was on and off the pitch. So yeah,
and then you're going to the States and trying to
solidify my position in the States, and they you know,
it took me a couple of couple of years, and
you know, I had had a break out year that
that really you know, put me, put me up there
and just keep working. And here we are in Willington, Phoenix,
trying to you know, going to do my best and
(04:19):
work work for work. Work is hard to for the team.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
And eighteen young to be going away, you know, to
the other side of the world to chase a dream.
But did you feel ready at that time when you
landed at eighteen? Were you ready for that level?
Speaker 3 (04:32):
I did? I did feel ready. I was excited more
of just you know, it was a dream that I
wanted to I wanted to pursue and at the age
of fourteen, I told myself I want to be a
pro so and I was just just happy and grateful
by the grace of God that He's protected me and
you know, guided me through through through all this, you know,
throughout my journey. I know my journey is not not
(04:54):
done yet. So we've got we've got six months to
claim up the ladding train, get in the playoff spot.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
And also six months or just less than that to
force your way into that World Cup squad yet and
around the team at the moment, how am I? That's
what it means for you to go to a football
World Cup with New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
I mean for every player, every every young kid that
has a big dream for the World Cup is the
biggest tournament in the world. So you know, it will
be a massive deal for me and my family.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
And in terms of the way the All Whites are
playing at the moment, you know, since qualifying some games
against high quality opposition and some narrow losses that win
over coach of wire as well, do you feel confident
that the Whites can go to the World Cup this
year and really you know, make a good fist of it.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Yeah, definitely, one hundred percent. We have the players. We
have the players to do the job. We've got quality
players in Europe and now it's all over Europe or
you know, in the States, and we have the players
to do it. We have the players to do the tactics,
we have players to win games and playing like you said,
playing these big, big countries, it's going to help us,
you know, it's going to help us grow and help
us be better as a team.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
All right, and just to finish so six months says
you say, with Wellington Phoenix, you've only just arrived. But
do you feel us though, this is a team that
has the talent to you know, to turn around what's
been a challenging start of the season and push towards
the top six.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
It's definitely. I've you know, kept an eye on the
on the on the on the schedule and seeing you know,
where they're in the table. And after this big win,
there's no now, it's that that's the standard.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Now we're gonna got to grow together and prove together
as a team and also as the individuals. And yeah,
and now we've got to keep that winning street going
because you know, two three games you're sitting in the
top of the table or top four. So and with
with the with the with the team that we have,
it's we've got the quality. We've got to tell it
to to go to when being being constant contestant for
(06:41):
to win, to win the rugby.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
That is Bill Tuilama, freshly signed Wellington Phoenix player. Next time,
I'll choose a slightly quieter place to do the interview.
That's out at in did C. I is where the
Phoenix shared digs with the Hurricanes. There was the Hurricanes
in the background, yahooeing in one of their team building exercises.
Good to know that they're in good spirits hit of
the new Super Rugby season, but great to get the
(07:03):
chance to check to build Tilama.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
For more from We Can Sport with Jason Fine, listen
live to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
EDB Wellington Phoenix confirmed the signing of All Whites defender
Build Touloma on a two and a half year deal.
Delivery is good and as he goes for New Zealand
and Bill Toilama. It's the man ten point delivery from
Joe Bell Build to Iloma, Notts Homer's third goal for
New Zealand or elevation on that one, but the hen
(00:32):
it comes out from to Ilama. It's a second goal
from a corner for Bill to Iloma. What a night
he's head in Doha. It's a long wait at homecoming
for the thirty year old defender. He's played more than
two hundred professional matches in France and the United States.
He will have to wait for the A League's mid
season registration window to open. It's not that far away.
(00:53):
It opens on Wednesday. It means he can't play tomorrow
for the Phoenix against Adelaide, but will be eligible to
make his debut next weekend. So tomorrow it's Adelaide and
then on that's tomorrow week they face Sydney. That will
be his first opportunity to play for his new site.
I caught up with Bill Tuilama on Thursday to find
(01:15):
out how the move had come about.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yeah, I mean I came across the came across the
table with my agent and we really talked about it.
You know, it took us a couple of weeks so
thinking about it and processing it and you know, seeing
where the best option was to go to. And Phoenix
will on top as well, and especial with them being
in mid season. And I was excited just to you know,
make that decision on Christmas Day and come home.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
So you'd had the contract in front of you, you'd
had the offer, and it was on Christmas Day that
you made the call.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Yeah, it was on Christmas Day.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
I work.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
I spoke with Chief I think before a couple of
days before on Christmas, and you know, I wanted to
think about it and you know, process things and take
it easy and talk to my talk to my dad
and my parents and see, you know, you know if
I was you know, the right move and work up
on Christmas and you know, tell myself, look, it's the
right movie, it was the right option. Let them Let
(02:08):
my agent know that it's kind of we're going to
do and missus Shawan girl Seawan girl to you know,
let's do the signing. So very excited.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
So you've landed you here, You've had a few training
sessions with the team. Does it feel like a team
that will be comfortable for you to fit into?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, definitely, definitely got these talent here, the way they
want to play, the way the way the Chiefs wants
to play and having the highlane, it's it's great. I
know it's something that I'm used to. I've played, I
played that formation as well, so I'm very excited to
get on the pitch and hopefully perform for the team.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
And it's twenty twenty six now World Cup year. How
important is it for you as a as an all
watch aspirant. You want to be on that plane to
be playing football at the moment.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah, definitely, it's it's it's one of my dream goals
to go to the World Cup and playing these games
is very important for the national team coach to watch
and you know it's good for them to see players
that are playing and yeah, so I just want to
perform and hopefully score some goals and hopefully helped up
the team to climb up the ladder.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
I was trying to work out the last time you
would have played a club game in New Zealand. Would
it have been for White TARKETI would that have been
the last club team you played for here? Or was
there another one before you went to Marseille.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
I think I think my last club game was Burko.
I think it was Burker eighteen years old, just turn
I was about to turn eighteen, and then I left. Yeah,
I remember.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
So it's some career you've forged in Europe and in
the United States. I mean, how different is Bill Tuyloma
from the eighteen year old who took off to France
to chase his football and dream?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Yeah, I mean football I've learned when I was eighteen
gone to mar Sille. I did those those years there.
I've learned so much on the pitch of playing against Piet,
playing with Piet and the Au brothers, Andre Steve Madonna,
the captain and goalie. There was just a massive, massive
team of just maturity in that squad, and I just picked.
(03:57):
I picked all the things I could learn off each
player didn't medal was on and off the pitch. So yeah,
and then you're going to the States and trying to
solidify my position in the States, and they you know,
it took me a couple of couple of years, and
you know, I had had a break out year that
that really you know, put me, put me up there
and just keep working. And here we are in Willington, Phoenix,
trying to you know, going to do my best and
(04:19):
work work for work. Work is hard to for the team.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
And eighteen young to be going away, you know, to
the other side of the world to chase a dream.
But did you feel ready at that time when you
landed at eighteen? Were you ready for that level?
Speaker 3 (04:32):
I did? I did feel ready. I was excited more
of just you know, it was a dream that I
wanted to I wanted to pursue and at the age
of fourteen, I told myself I want to be a
pro so and I was just just happy and grateful
by the grace of God that He's protected me and
you know, guided me through through through all this, you know,
throughout my journey. I know my journey is not not
(04:54):
done yet. So we've got we've got six months to
claim up the ladding train, get in the playoff spot.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
And also six months or just less than that to
force your way into that World Cup squad yet and
around the team at the moment, how am I? That's
what it means for you to go to a football
World Cup with New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
I mean for every player, every every young kid that
has a big dream for the World Cup is the
biggest tournament in the world. So you know, it will
be a massive deal for me and my family.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
And in terms of the way the All Whites are
playing at the moment, you know, since qualifying some games
against high quality opposition and some narrow losses that win
over coach of wire as well, do you feel confident
that the Whites can go to the World Cup this
year and really you know, make a good fist of it.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Yeah, definitely, one hundred percent. We have the players. We
have the players to do the job. We've got quality
players in Europe and now it's all over Europe or
you know, in the States, and we have the players
to do it. We have the players to do the tactics,
we have players to win games and playing like you said,
playing these big, big countries, it's going to help us,
you know, it's going to help us grow and help
us be better as a team.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
All right, and just to finish so six months says
you say, with Wellington Phoenix, you've only just arrived. But
do you feel us though, this is a team that
has the talent to you know, to turn around what's
been a challenging start of the season and push towards
the top six.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
It's definitely. I've you know, kept an eye on the
on the on the on the schedule and seeing you know,
where they're in the table. And after this big win,
there's no now, it's that that's the standard.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Now we're gonna got to grow together and prove together
as a team and also as the individuals. And yeah,
and now we've got to keep that winning street going
because you know, two three games you're sitting in the
top of the table or top four. So and with
with the with the with the team that we have,
it's we've got the quality. We've got to tell it
to to go to when being being constant contestant for
(06:41):
to win, to win the rugby.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
That is Bill Tuilama, freshly signed Wellington Phoenix player. Next time,
I'll choose a slightly quieter place to do the interview.
That's out at in did C. I is where the
Phoenix shared digs with the Hurricanes. There was the Hurricanes
in the background, yahooeing in one of their team building exercises.
Good to know that they're in good spirits hit of
the new Super Rugby season, but great to get the
(07:03):
chance to check to build Tilama.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
For more from We Can Sport with Jason Fine, listen
live to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
iHeartRadio 24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com