Sione Tuipulotu (rugby union, born February 1997)
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 Tuipulotu representing Glasgow Warriors during the United Rugby Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 12 February 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Frankston, Victoria, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 104 kg (229 lb; 16 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School Frankston St. Kevin's College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Mosese Tuipulotu (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sione Tuipulotu (born 12 February 1997) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Glasgow Warriors. Born in Australia, he represents Scotland at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.
Club career
[edit]He made his debut for the Rebels against the Queensland Reds as a late replacement for Tamati Ellison in a 25–23 win for the Rebels, becoming the first ever 'home-grown' player to play for the Rebels.[1]
He signed for the Japanese side Yamaha Júbilo with the intention of playing there in Super Rugby's off-season.[2]
On 1 March 2021 it was announced that Tuipulotu would join Glasgow Warriors at the end of the Japanese Top league season. Tuipuloto said of the move: "I think my play style suit the Warriors' style. I’m a bit of a rugby nerd and I’ve watched a lot of their games – I’ve heard a lot about the speed of the Scotstoun pitch and I’m looking forward to playing that attacking fast style of rugby." Warriors Head Coach Danny Wilson said: "Sione is an exciting talent. He’s Scottish-qualified, and a really physical and powerful ball carrier who can play both centre and wing. His skill set and play style compliments the way we want to play."[3]
He made his debut for the Glasgow club in the 'Clash of the Warriors' pre-season fixture against English side Worcester Warriors at their Sixways Stadium. The Glasgow Warriors won out, winning the match 27 – 22 and taking home the inaugural cup.[4] He made his competitive debut for Glasgow in the 24 September 2021 match against Ulster away at Ravenhill Stadium in the United Rugby Championship – earning the Glasgow Warrior No. 332.[5]
International career
[edit]Tuipulotu qualifies for Scotland via a grandmother from Greenock.[6] In June 2021 Tuipulotu was called up to the Scotland squad for the summer internationals.[7] He was selected to start against Tonga in the match scheduled for 29 October 2021.[8]
He made his Scotland debut against Tonga on 30 October 2021. Scotland won the match 60 - 14.[9]
He was capped by Scotland 'A' on 25 June 2022 in their match against Chile.[10]
He scored his first Scotland points with 2 tries against Argentina on 19 November 2022.
In 2023 Tuipolotu was selected in Scotland's 33 player squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.[11]
In October 2024 he was named as the Scotland Captain for the 2024 Autumn Internationals. He was joined in the squad for the first time by his brother Mosese.[12]
Career statistics
[edit]List of international tries
[edit]| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 November 2022 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland |  Argentina
|
5–3 | 52–29 | 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals |
| 2 | 29–22 |
as of 19 November 2022[update]
References
[edit]- ^ Ward, Roy (13 March 2016). "Melbourne Rebels' home-grown star Sione Tuipulotu makes Super Rugby debut". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "Rebels in Japan". melbournerebels.rugby. 4 December 2018. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "Tuipulotu agrees Glasgow move". Glasgow Warriors. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors 22–27 Glasgow Warriors". Glasgow Warriors. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "Glasgow Warriors on Twitter: "An unforgettable occasion for our 5⃣ new Warriors tonight, despite the result. #329 @BradThyer #330 @siberghan #331 Jack Dempsey #332 Sione Tuipulotu #333 @m4gnet_ Welcome to the club, lads. #WeAreWarriors… https://T.co/HRoOuMFoTG"". Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
{{cite web}}: External link in|title= - ^ "Who is Sione Tuipulotu and is he Scotland's next centre?". www.rugbypass.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "Scotland: Seventeen uncapped players in squad for summer Tests". BBC. 1 June 2021. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ David Barnes (27 October 2021). "Scotland v Tonga: Gregor Townsend names eight new caps in squad for Autumn opener". The Offside Line. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ "Scotland v Tonga".
- ^ "Chile v Scotland A".
- ^ "Scotland squad named for Rugby World Cup 2023". Scottish Rugby Union.
- ^ "Tuipulotu to captain Scotland in autumn Tests". BBC Sport. 23 October 2024.
External links
[edit]- Sione Tuipulotu at ESPNscrum
- Sione Tuipulotu at ItsRugby.co.uk
- Sione Tuipulotu at Glasgow Warriors
- Sione Tuipulotu at Scottish Rugby Union
   | This Scottish rugby union biography article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1997 births
- Living people
- Scotland international rugby union players
- Scottish rugby union players
- Glasgow Warriors players
- Australian rugby union players
- Rugby union centres
- Melbourne Rebels players
- Melbourne Rising players
- Rugby union players from Melbourne
- Shizuoka Blue Revs players
- Rugby union wings
- Australian people of Scottish descent
- Australian sportspeople of Tongan descent
- Scottish expatriate rugby union players in Japan
- Scotland A international rugby union players
- Australian expatriate rugby union players in Japan
- Scottish people of Tongan descent
- People from Frankston, Victoria
- 2023 Rugby World Cup players
- Eastern Suburbs RUFC players
- Scottish rugby union biography stubs