Clinton Toopi /

Fast facts

• Born in Stratford, New Zealand and raised in Auckland, New Zealand
• Debuted with the NZ Warriors in 1999
• Played with the NZ Warriors for eight seasons
• Played in the 2002 NRL Grand Final against Sydney Roosters
• Played for the Gold Coast Titans from 2010-2011
• Played more than 150 career games
• Captained the NZ Maori team in 2010
• Played for the New Zealand Kiwis from 2000-2007
• Represented New Zealand in more than 20 international games
• Retired from professional rugby league in 2011
• NRL Ambassador from 2016-2017
• NRL Community Program Deliverer since 2018

Fun facts

• Favourite NRL team: Vodafone Warriors and Gold Coast Titans
• Career ambition as a kid: A professional NRL player
• Favourite food: Anything healthy, from fruit, to veges and protein
• Spirit animal: A lion
• What's on TV (when the footy isn't on): A program that will inspire me

Biography

Starting junior league at just seven years old, Clinton Toopi was introduced to the game by his father, a local junior league coach, and has loved the sport ever since.

Born and raised in New Zealand, Clinton debuted with the NZ Warriors in 1999 and completed eight seasons with the side, including the 2002 NRL grand final clash against the Sydney Roosters.

Inspired most by the seniors at his local junior club, Mt Wellington Warriors, Clinton challenged himself to play with the passion and aggression they showed, giving him the edge he needed to make the NRL.

After playing eight seasons with the Warriors, Clinton tested his skills in rugby union, before returning to rugby league in 2010, playing for the Gold Coast Titans in 2011.

In 2017 Clinton was inducted as a NRL Ambassador after his existing involvement in the Queensland State of Mind program and in 2018 will transition to the role of NRL Community Program Deliverers.

"I want to educate, inspire and connect people who are involved in our game, especially women. I also want to help our young junior players have a deeper understanding and connectedness to their emotional, physical and mental worth," said Clinton.

"I have a genuine passion and interest to drive change through our NRL State of Mind and Voice Against Violence programs. I enjoy delivering powerful messages and connecting with our communities."

Passionate about health and reducing obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart-related disease in Australia, Clinton founded Fabruary, a not-for-profit organisation that empowers and educates Australians to make smarter choices when it comes to food, beverages and exercise.

Clinton lives in Maudsland, Queensland with his family of four, where he continues his work for Fabruary, serves as an ambassador for the Preston Campbell Foundation and is a personal trainer at a local studio.