Date of birth | 1967 (age 56–57) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of birth | Kolomotu'a, Tonga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 82 kg (181 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Feʻao Vunipola (brother) Elisi Vunipola (brother) Mako Vunipola and Billy Vunipola (nephews) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupation(s) | Engineer, Minister of Sport of Tonga [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Manu Vunipola (born circa 1967 in Kolomotu'a, [4] ) is a Tongan former rugby union player and former Tonga sevens coach. He played as scrum-half. Currently he is the Minister of Sport of Tonga. [5]
Vunipola debuted for Tonga in the 1987 Rugby World Cup, playing only against Wales, in Palmerston North, on 29 May 1987. He also played the 1995 Rugby World Cup, playing the matches against France and against Scotland, in Pretoria. His last international cap was during the match against Fiji in Nuku'alofa, on 26 June 1999.
He is brother of the fly-half Elisi Vunipola and of the hooker Feʻao Vunipola, both Tongan internationals. He is also the uncle of Feʻao's sons, Billy and Mako Vunipola, both England internationals. [6]
The Samoa national rugby union team represents the Samoa Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. They are also known as "Manu Samoa", which is thought to derive from the name of a Samoan warrior. They perform a traditional Samoan challenge called the siva tau before each game. Samoa Rugby Union were formerly members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Tonga. They are ranked 11th in the world.
The Tonga national rugby union team represents the Tonga Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. The team is nicknamed ʻIkale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a traditional challenge – the Sipi Tau. They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Samoa. The Ikale Tahi achieved a historic 19–14 victory over France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but having lost to New Zealand and Canada, were unable to achieve what would have been their first-ever presence at the quarter-finals.
Rugby union is the national sport of Tonga. Tonga are considered to be a tier 2 rugby nation by the International Rugby Board.
Rugby union is the national sport in Tonga. Sumo has a following, while football, judo, surfing, volleyball, and cricket have gained popularity in recent years. Rugby league and Australian football are also played.
Tangaki Taulupe Faletau, commonly known as Toby Faletau but professionally as Taulupe Faletau, is a Welsh professional rugby union player for Cardiff Rugby in the United Rugby Championship and has represented the Wales national team for over 10 years. The back row forward played for Cross Keys RFC, Newport RFC and Newport Gwent Dragons in Wales before joining Bath in England in 2016. He joined present club Cardiff in 2022.
Mako Vunipola is a professional rugby union player who plays as a loosehead prop for English club Saracens and the England national team. Born in New Zealand to Tongan parents, he qualified for England through residency having lived and been educated in Wales and then England since the age of 7.
K. Manakaetau F. 'Otai is coach of the Tonga national team. He was educated at St Peter's College, Auckland and played club rugby in Auckland. His playing position was as flanker. Otai represented Tonga, being capped for the first time on 11 February 1995 against Japan at Nagoya. Otai was the Tongan team captain in the 1995 Rugby World Cup competition, in which he scored a try. Otai was an All Black trialist in 1994.
Vunipola is the surname of various members of the rugby-playing Vunipola family that originated in Tonga, including:
Fe'ao Moe Lotu Vunipola is a Tongan former international rugby union player who participated at the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 1999 Rugby World Cup. He is the father of Mako Vunipola and Billy Vunipola, and is married to Rev. Iesinga Vunipola, Methodist minister and chaplain to the UK Tongan community. He moved to Wales in 1998 to sign with Pontypool, and in 1999 joined up with Pontypridd. He left to join neighbours Caerphilly in 2001.
Viliami Vunipola is a professional rugby union player who plays as a number eight for Premiership Rugby club Saracens. Born in Australia, he represents England at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.
Sila Puafisi is a Tongan international rugby union player. He previously played for Glasgow Warriors.
Scott Kevin Barrett is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and Taranaki in the Mitre 10 Cup. Barrett was chosen as the Crusaders' Captain for the 2020 Super Rugby season.
Elisi Busco Vunipola is a Tongan former rugby union player. He played as fly-half.
Talanoa Fuka Kitekei'aho is a former Tongan rugby union footballer who played as centre. He was also the Tonga Rugby Union interim CEO.
Daniel Tai Manu is an Australian former rugby union footballer who played as flanker. He is of Tongan origin.
Akuila Mafi is a Tasmanian-raised Tongan former rugby union fly-half.
Falanisi Manukia, known also as Francis Manukia, is a Tongan former rugby union player who played as fly-half.
Manu Vunipola is a rugby union fly-half for Saracens in Premiership Rugby. Born in New Zealand, he has represented England under-18s and England under-20s.
Carwyn Tuipulotu 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.