Date of birth | 28 September 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of birth | Abergavenny, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 120 kg (19 st; 260 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Sedbergh School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | Swansea University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Carwyn Tuipulotu (born 28 September 2001) is a Welsh rugby union player, currently playing for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Scarlets. His preferred position is flanker or number 8. [1]
Tuipulotu was part of the Newcastle Falcons academy, and was part of the Welsh Exiles, leading to a contract with the Scarlets academy. [2]
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, and he did come off the bench. 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]
Tuipulotu represented Wales U20 in the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. [5]
On 26 March 2022, Tuipulotu scored his first try for the Scarlets, in a 41–24 win over Zebre. [6] He scored another try in a friendly against the Saracens on 10 March 2023. [7]
Tuipulotu is the son of former Tonga international Katilimoni 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. [8]
The United Rugby Championship (URC) is an annual rugby union competition involving professional teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales. For sponsorship reasons the league is known as the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in South Africa, and the BKT United Rugby Championship in the competition's other territories, the split branding mirroring the format previously adopted in Super Rugby. The Championship represents the highest level of domestic club or franchise rugby in each of its constituent countries.
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh rugby union teams and are based in Llanelli, Wales. Their home ground is the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the United Rugby Championship and in European Professional Club Rugby competitions. The club was originally named the Llanelli Scarlets but was renamed at the start of the 2008–09 rugby season.
Kenneth James Owens is a former Welsh rugby union player who played as a hooker for the Scarlets and Wales. He made his debut for the Scarlets in 2006, taking over from Matthew Rees as their first-choice hooker upon Rees' departure for the Cardiff Blues in 2013. He also served as backup to Rees, among others, for Wales following his debut against Namibia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. In 2016, he took over as Wales' first-choice hooker, and in January 2023, following almost a year out with a back injury, he was named as captain for the 2023 Six Nations Championship.
Robert McCusker is a Welsh former rugby union player, who played across the back row. McCusker began his career with the Scarlets, and also played for London Irish and the Ospreys before retiring. McCusker also played internationally for Wales.
Jordan Rhys Williams is a Welsh rugby union footballer who plays for the Dragons. His regular position is at full-back, but he has also played at fly-half and on the wing. He began his career with amateur side New Dock Stars RFC, before being signed by Llanelli RFC and ultimately breaking into the Scarlets regional side. However, he struggled to find playing time with the Scarlets and moved to Bristol in 2016, only to return to Wales with the Dragons two years later. He has also played internationally for Wales at under-16, under-18 and under-20 level, as well as for the Wales Sevens team.
The 2017–18 PRO14 was the seventeenth season of the professional rugby union competition originally known as the Celtic League. It is the first season to be referred to as the Guinness PRO14 Championship, with the addition of two South African teams.
The 2018–19 Pro14 is the eighteenth season of the professional rugby union competition originally known as the Celtic League. It was the second season to be referred to as the Pro14.
Thomas Rogers is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Wales national team.
Jac Price is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for United Rugby Championship side Scarlets. His preferred position is lock.
Kemsley Mathias is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Wales national team.
Iestyn Rees is a German-born Welsh rugby union player, currently playing for Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup side Scarlets. His preferred position is flanker.
Joe Roberts is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Wales national team.
Lewis Morgan is a Welsh rugby union player who previously played for the Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship as a hooker.
Sisilia Tuipulotu is a Welsh rugby union player. She plays prop for Wales internationally and for Gloucester-Hartpury in the Premier 15s competition.