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
Will rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
2 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
2 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
3 Go to comments