# Sione Tuipulotu (rugby union, born February 1997)

Sione Tuipulotu (born 12 February 1997) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Glasgow Warriors. Born in Australia, he is the current captain of the Scotland national rugby union team after qualifying on ancestry grounds.

## Club career

He made his debut for the Rebels against the Queensland Reds as a late replacement for Tamati Ellison in a 25–23 win for the Rebels, becoming the first ever 'home-grown' player to play for the Rebels.
He signed for the Japanese side Yamaha Júbilo with the intention of playing there in Super Rugby's off-season.
On 1 March 2021 it was announced that Tuipulotu would join Glasgow Warriors at the end of the Japanese Top league season. Tuipuloto said of the move: "I think my play style suit the Warriors' style. I’m a bit of a rugby nerd and I’ve watched a lot of their games – I’ve heard a lot about the speed of the Scotstoun pitch and I’m looking forward to playing that attacking fast style of rugby." Warriors Head Coach Danny Wilson said: "Sione is an exciting talent. He’s Scottish-qualified, and a really physical and powerful ball carrier who can play both centre and wing. His skill set and play style compliments the way we want to play."
He made his debut for the Glasgow club in the 'Clash of the Warriors' pre-season fixture against English side Worcester Warriors at their Sixways Stadium. The Glasgow Warriors won out, winning the match 27 – 22 and taking home the inaugural cup. He made his competitive debut for Glasgow in the 24 September 2021 match against Ulster away at Ravenhill Stadium in the United Rugby Championship – earning the Glasgow Warrior No. 332.

## International career

Tuipulotu qualifies for Scotland via a grandmother from Greenock. In June 2021 Tuipulotu was called up to the Scotland squad for the summer internationals. He was selected to start against Tonga in the match scheduled for 29 October 2021.
He made his Scotland debut against Tonga on 30 October 2021. Scotland won the match 60 - 14.
He was capped by Scotland 'A' on 25 June 2022 in their match against Chile.
He scored his first Scotland points with 2 tries against Argentina on 19 November 2022.
In 2023 Tuipolotu was selected in Scotland's 33 player squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
In October 2024 he was named as the Scotland Captain for the 2024 Autumn Internationals. He was joined in the squad for the first time by his brother Mosese. In November 2024, he captained the side, scoring a try against Australia as they went to win 27–13 to reclaim the Hopetoun Cup.

## Career statistics
### List of international tries

| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 19 November 2022 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland | Argentina | 5–3 | 52–29 | 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals |
| 2 | 19 November 2022 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland | Argentina | 29–22 | 52–29 | 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals |
| 3 | 24 November 2024 | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland | Australia | 5-3 | 27–13 | 2024 end-of-year rugby union internationals |
as of 25 November 2024