Billy Sela

Billy Sela

Sela in 2024
Born	Vilikesa Sela (2005-04-12) 12 April 2005 (age 20) [1]
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	116 kg (18 st 4 lb; 256 lb) [2]
School	Beechen Cliff School
University	University of Bath
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Royal Wooton Bassett () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) Bath () International career Years Team Apps (Points) England U18s – England U20s

Vilikesa "Billy" Sela (born 12 April 2005) is an English rugby union player who plays as a prop forward for Bath Rugby.

Early life

Sela was born in Hounslow, and is one of four children of Fijian descent. His father Ilaitia served in the infantry and the Royal Logistics Corps in the British Army before becoming a petroleum operator for the Ministry of Defence and the family moved to Wiltshire. His father also played rugby union for the Army, including featuring at Twickenham. ^{[3] [4]} Sela attended Beechen Cliff School in Bath, England. Having first played rugby at Royal Wootton Bassett, he joined Bath Rugby Academy at 15 years-old. He later attended the University of Bath. ^{[5] [6]}

Club career

He was part of the senior academy intake for Bath Rugby ahead of the 2023–24 season. ^[7] He featured for the Bath first team in pre-season friendly matches ahead of the 2024–25 season with the Bath coaching staff confirming he was part of their first team plans. ^[8] He was named amongst the match day substitutes for Bath's Premiership Rugby match on 29 September 2024 against Leicester Tigers, making his senior debut as a second-half replacement. ^{[9] [10]} He was named in the Bath starting XV for his European Rugby Champions Cup debut against Benetton Rugby on 15 December 2024. ^[11]

International career

He played for England at U18 and U20 level, and was a member of the England U20 squad which won the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship. ^{[6] [5] [12]} In November 2024, he was called-up to the England A national rugby union team. ^[13]

In June 2025, he was named in the England U20 squad for the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship. ^[14]

Honours

England U20

• World Rugby Under 20 Championship
  • Champion (1): 2024

References

1. "Billy Sela". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
2. "Billy Sela". All Rugby. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
3. Morgan, Charlie (4 July 2025). "A generation of elite England props is emerging, but Billy Sela is most exciting". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
4. Graham, Josh (1 February 2024). "Rising world". Rugby World. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
5. "Young Guns:Billy Sela". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
6. King, Ben (23 February 2024). "Billy Sela Exclusive: 'BUCS Super Rugby has prepared me well for these Six Nations games'". Talking Rugby Union. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
7. "Bath confirm 2023/24 squad". Huge Rugby. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
8. Heagney, Liam (19 September 2024). "The Bath prediction about Billy Sela, their U20s World Cup winner". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
9. Newboult, Colin (27 September 2024). "Premiership: Anthony Watson returns after nine-month absence as fellow England stars earn first starts of the season". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
10. Darcy, Olly; Evely, John (29 September 2024). "Bath Rugby player ratings from Leicester Tigers victory – 'Reached a new level'" . Retrieved 1 October 2024.
11. Evely, John (13 December 2024). "Benetton v Bath Rugby team news live announcements ahead of Champions Cup clash". Somerset Live. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
12. "International watch: Sela and Treacey named for U18 International series". Bath Rugby. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
13. Morgan, Charlie (6 November 2024). "Gabriel Ibitoye called up to England A squad for Australia fixture". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
14. Raisey, Josh (19 June 2025). "England name squad for U20 world title defence with 8 champions returning". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 25 June 2025.