Carwyn Tuipulotu - the 125kg U18 that's the talk of Welsh rugby
Taulupe Faletau and brothers Mako and Billy Vunipola are all well-known figures in the sport of rugby and household names around world, but you could be forgiven if the name Carwyn Tuipulotu is a new one to you.
Tuipulotu is the cousin of Faletau and the Vunipola brothers, as well as Saracens youngsters Manu Vunipola and Kapeli Pifeleti, and is the latest in a family line that is set to give the Tuilagis and Whitelocks a run for their money as the most prestigious family in the sport.
He is also the son of Katilimoni Tuipulotu, a prominent member of Tonga’s squad at the 1999 Rugby World Cup, who remains to this day a significant influence on Carwyn’s career. Through the highs and the lows, he continues to be the steady presence at the youngster’s side.
The family is far from done, either, with another of Tuipulotu’s cousins, Kepueli Tuipulotu, currently at school at Harrow and already turning into a pretty impressive back rower himself, a position where you’re likely to see the elder Tuipulotu playing in the coming seasons.
Although a second row in schoolboy rugby at Sedbergh, Tuipulotu is almost certain to play the bulk of his senior rugby in the back row, something which should delight Scarlets fans, with the Welsh region having pounced on the promising youngster and ensured his future is in Llanelli. Standing 6’ 2” and weighing in at 125kg, you can see why the Welsh region wanted to take a shot on Tuipulotu.
He is looking to get leaner as he transitions into men’s rugby and establishes himself as a back rower, something which should only further benefit his already formidable ball-carrying ability. Given that the Scarlets are gifted with a number of talented flankers, all of whom are capable of influencing the battle at the breakdown as well as putting in the work rate in defence, it’s not difficult to envision how they see Tuipulotu fitting into their loose forwards moving forward.
In fact, despite still being at school, Tuipulotu has already begun training with the Scarlets’ senior side and was even included as a travelling reserve when the team played the Cheetahs earlier this season. The Scarlets won’t rush him into action before he’s ready, but it’s mark of the regard they already hold the forward in, that he’s being put in the mix with the seniors.
Tuipulotu started out in Newcastle Falcons’ academy but, being Welsh-qualified, was identified by the Welsh Exiles programme and the Scarlets swooped early for him. This subsequently saw him involved with the Wales U18 team, as well as him continuing to distinguish himself at Sedbergh, playing a pivotal role in a side that has enjoyed unmatched success in English schoolboy rugby of late. There is a calculated risk in doing what the Scarlets did, attempting to identify and contract as young as 16 years of age, although right now, it looks as though it is about to pay dividends for the region.
One thing which is central to Tuipulotu’s life and has helped keep him humble and working hard amidst all of this attention, is his Christian beliefs. They have been a theme in his family’s life as professional rugby players, and it is something which should continue to provide strength to Tuipulotu as he begins his journey into those same professional ranks.
His first real taste of that senior rugby world could come this summer, with the back rower undoubtedly on the Wales U20s’ radar, despite still being at school. For the plethora of jackals and contact area specialists that the Welsh age-grade pathway has turned out in recent seasons, it has struggled to replicate that productivity with physical ball-carriers, something which Tuipulotu certainly could help change.
'Being together is the main thing and I’m lucky I have my brother here. It definitely makes the Christmas a whole lot better’
– @CPiutau talks Christmas, @BristolBears, @BristolBearsCF, @pacificwelfare, @officialTongaRU and @FortniteGame with @heagneylhttps://t.co/8UXWk4plCW
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 22, 2019
In addition to his undoubted playing ability and the potential he has to unlock in the coming years, the prospect of a budding rivalry with cousin Manu, is an intriguing one. Although Taulupe, Billy and Mako are all slightly older and an almost different generation of player, Tuipulotu’s career is going to run parallel with that of Manu Vunipola.
The younger Vunipola is just two years older than Tuipulotu and having impressed for Saracens and England U20s, seems well on his way to a promising career for both club and country. Similarly, Pifeleti, also two years Tuipulotu’s senior, is capped and tied to the US and will have his targets set on nailing down the nation’s starting hooker jersey. If Tuipulotu can move through the ranks with Wales, something which is quite possible if he continues to work hard, it sets up an interesting three-way international rivalry within the family.
The future of the Scarlets coaching staff remains to be seen, with Brad Mooar linked heavily with a return to New Zealand in order to take up a role in Ian Foster’s new set-up with the All Blacks, although it’s clear the current group think highly of Tuipulotu. As stands, he will come under the guidance of forwards coach Ioan Cunningham, attack coach Richard Whiffin and defence coach Glenn Delaney.
Whiffin, a former academy manager at London Irish and Gloucester, is going to be no stranger to the challenges of transitioning a talented schoolboy and age-grade player to men’s rugby and all the rigorous demands it will ask of Tuipulotu. His position on the performance coaching staff at the Scarlets should only help ease that process for Tuipulotu.
Now, with the school XVs season largely over and done with, Tuipulotu’s attentions will shift to his exams and the culmination of his final school year. Once he has completed his time at Sedbergh in the summer, he will move into the next stage of his life and career and is someone that Scarlets and Welsh fans alike will watch over with interest in the coming years.
Watch: Manu Tuilagi discusses the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour
Comments on RugbyPass
I wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
4 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
4 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to comments