Taniela Tupou Aussie exit? French club approach Wallabies star

Taniela Tupou could be on the move again, with RugbyPass understanding that Top 14 outfit Section Paloise have made an approach for the Wallabies tighthead.

The 29-year-old would link up with the French club following the conclusion of the British & Irish Lions series and would remain eligible for international selection under the 2022 amendments to the Giteau Law.

Tupou has spent his entire professional career in Australian rugby, making his Super Rugby debut with the Queensland Reds in 2016. He first rose to prominence as a schoolboy at Auckland’s Sacred Heart College, where his barnstorming performances went viral.

Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou and hooker Feleti Kaitu’u MEDIA BRIEFING

Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou and hooker Feleti Kaitu’u MEDIA BRIEFING

Under coaches Nick Stiles and Brad Thorn, Tupou quickly established himself as a mainstay in the Reds front row, going on to make 90 appearances for the Brisbane-based side. He made his Test debut for Australia in 2017 against Scotland at Murrayfield and has since earned 58 caps, featuring in both the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups.

After nearly a decade at Ballymore, Tupou signed for the Melbourne Rebels in 2024. But with the franchise cut from Super Rugby Pacific at the end of the season, he was picked up by the Waratahs. He’s featured in six of their opening eight matches, but only joined on a one-year deal, and the New South Wales side are yet to confirm any plans for a renewal.

Section Paloise are understood to be looking for a replacement for Harry Williams, who is set to return to England this summer with Harlequins. The club have already secured the signings of Argentina stars Julián Montoya and Facundo Isa, and are reportedly keen to add further international experience to their pack.

Listed at 148kg by the Waratahs, Tupou has so far resisted a number of overseas offers in a bid to stay in the Wallabies frame. Whether he sticks with that stance beyond 2025 remains to be seen.