Carwyn Tuipulotu

Last updated

Carwyn Tuipulotu
Date of birth (2001-09-28) 28 September 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Abergavenny, Wales
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight120 kg (19 st; 260 lb)
School Sedbergh School
University Swansea University
Notable relative(s) Taulupe Faletau (cousin)
Billy Vunipola (cousin)
Mako Vunipola (cousin)
Kepu Tuipulotu (cousin)
Sisilia Tuipulotu (cousin)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker / Number 8
Current team Scarlets
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2021–2025 Scarlets 28 (15)
2022–2023 Llanelli RFC 2 (0)
2024–2025 Carmarthen Quins 6 (0)
2025 → Saracens 2 (5)
2025– Pau 0 (0)
Correct as of 11 February 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2021 Wales U20 4 (0)
Correct as of 11 February 2025

Carwyn Tuipulotu (born 28 September 2001) is a Welsh professional rugby union player, who plays Flanker and Number 8 for Top 14 side Section Paloise. [1]

Contents

Club Career

Youth rugby

Tuipulotu was part of the Newcastle Falcons academy, and was part of the Welsh Exiles, leading to a contract with the Scarlets academy. [2]

Scarlets

Tuipulotu was named in the Scarlets first-team squad for the 2020–21 Pro14 season. [3] He was first called into the Scarlets matchday squad for a pre-season friendly against their rivals, the Ospreys, on 25 September 2020. He made his debut in the rearranged Round 8 match of the 2020–21 Pro14 against Leinster. [4] Tuipulotu signed his first professional contract with the Scarlets in February 2021, tying him to the region for the next four years. [2]

On 26 March 2022, Tuipulotu scored his first try for the Scarlets, in a 41–24 win over Zebre. [5] He scored another try in a friendly against the Saracens on 10 March 2023. [6]

Tuipulotu played for Llanelli RFC until the side was disbanded, and later featured for Carmarthen Quins RFC in Super Rygbi Cymru. [7] [8]

Saracens

On 24 January 2025, Tuipulotu joined Saracens as short term injury cover. [9] He made his debut on 1 February 2025 in a Premiership Rugby Cup fixture against Ealing Trailfinders, scoring a try in the loss. [10]

Section Paloise

On 10 February 2025, Tuipulotu returned from his short-term loan with Saracens and joined Top 14 side Section Paloise initially on an injury cover basis with immediate effect. [11]

International career

Wales U20

Previously involved with Wales U16 and U18, Tuipulotu represented Wales U20 in the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. [12]

Personal life

Tuipulotu is the son of former Tonga international Kati Tuipulotu, who earned 16 caps between 1994 and 2001, and played in Wales for Ebbw Vale RFC, Dunvant RFC and Neath RFC during his career. Tuipulotu is also a cousin of England internationals Mako and Billy Vunipola, Wales international number 8 Taulupe Faletau and Wales Women’s international Sisilia Tuipulotu. [2]

The family moved to England in 2005, as Kati worked as a player-coach for New Brighton RFC. While in England, Tuipulotu attended Sedbergh School. [2] Tuipulotu studied philosophy at Swansea University. [13]

References

  1. ↑ "Carwyn Tuipulotu to leave Scarlets to join French club Section Paloise". Scarlets Rugby. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Carwyn Tuipulotu: Teenager signs four-year contract with Scarlets". BBC Sport. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "Squad". Scarlets. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "Pro14: Scarlets 25-52 Leinster". BBC Sport. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "Six-try Scarlets beat Zebre 41-24". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  6. ↑ "Battling young Scarlets fall to defeat at Sarries". Scarlets Rugby. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "Phillips and Tuipulotu start for Llanelli against Drovers – LLANELLI RFC". 9 November 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "Team to take on RGC". 18 October 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "Carwyn Tuipulotu: Scarlets back-row joins Saracens on short-term loan". BBC Sport. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  10. ↑ Bond, Jane. "MATCH REPORT | Saracens Men 29-50 Ealing Trailfinders - Saracens" . Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  11. ↑ "Carwyn Tuipulotu to leave Scarlets to join French club Section Paloise". Scarlets Rugby. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  12. ↑ Doel, Jon (12 June 2021). "Welsh rugby's special giant and Faletau's cousin named in Six Nations squad". WalesOnline. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  13. ↑ Thomas, Simon (29 January 2021). "Giant teenager Carwyn Tuipulotu set for league debut". WalesOnline. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.