Eric Tai

Early life Tai was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia. He was obsessed with video games and had an Atari for his first console. In high school, he became involved in various sports such as rugby, cricket, volleyball, and track and field.

Tai first came to the Philippines as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he was able to serve a two-year mission in Naga, Camarines Sur.

Rugby career Tai was part of the Philippines national rugby union team in 2011. For two years he did not play for the national team. In 2013, he made his return to the national team. In club rugby, Tai played for the Alabang Eagles.

Career Before his stint in the Philippines, he was already pursuing a career in acting, commercial modelling, and hosting in Australia.

Television He initially made a guest appearance on It's Showtime as a hurado, or judge, and showcased his dance skills in a performance. In 2012, he transitioned to a full-time hosting role on the show, adopting the screen name Eruption. Despite receiving offers to join other ABS-CBN television shows, he declined, expressing a desire to concentrate on his role in It's Showtime.

He took a break after his stint in a Canadian tour of It's Showtime in September 2014 and returned in December the same year.

Tai announced his departure from It's Showtime in early 2016. Co-host Coleen Garcia also left. His last appearance on the television show was in December 2015.

Tai along with his wife, Rona Samson joined the fifth season of The Amazing Race Asia as contestants.

Tai is formerly part of the action adventure series Bagani in 2018, in which he played a giant guy. This was Tai's first teleserye, followed by his second teleserye Ngayon at Kailanman in 2019 in which he played a bodyguard.

In 2023, Tai and his team won P200,000 when they competed on Family Feud. In that episode, he challenged host Dingdong Dantes to the "Ting Ting Tang Ting Dance Challenge".

Film Tai appeared in Madaling Araw, Mahabang Gabi, an independent film which also featured Angelica Panganiban. In May 2012, Tai expressed his desire to act in an action film but said he did not find any opportunity to do so in the Philippines.

Modeling Tai appeared on the cover of the first issue of the Philippine edition of Muscle & Fitness in 2016.

Online media Tai went viral on TikTok while dancing on a train in Singapore in October 2022. He and his dance crew then started dancing to that tune in various locations and even got other celebrities to join them. He was drafted 4th by Magnolia.

Music In 2023, Tai released his first single "Do Your Ting", a collaboration with Mr. Mainit, DJ Loonyo, and Solomon Starks. He had also signed as a recording artist with Ingrooves Music Group (which is owned by Universal Music) that year. In 2015, Samson experienced a miscarriage and was informed by her doctor that she could only conceive a child with Tai through in vitro fertilisation. This led to the couple joining The Amazing Race Asia who planned to use the prize money to go through with the procedure. Tai also said that his esports events paid him well and helped him through the process.

Filmography Television

Film Shake Rattle & Roll 14 (2012) Madaling Araw, Mahabang Gabi (independent film; 2012) The Last Soldier (2019)