Sione Tuipulotu (rugby union, born December 1997)

Sione Tuipulotu
Born (1997-12-02) 2 December 1997
Height195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight115 kg (254 lb; 18 st 2 lb)
SchoolWesley College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker, Number 8
Current team AZ-COM Maruwa MOMOTARO’S
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019 Manawatu 11 (0)
2020–2021, 2023 Auckland 9 (5)
2022–2023 Moana Pasifika 12 (5)
2022 Hawke's Bay 1 (0)
2024– AZ-COM Maruwa MOMOTARO’S 19 (20)
Correct as of 7 December 2025
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015 Tonga U20 4 (0)
2016 Samoa U20 5 (0)
2022– Tonga 4 (0)
Correct as of 29 July 2022

Sione Tuipulotu (born 2 December 1997)[1] is a Tongan rugby union player, who currently plays as a lock or loose forward for AZ-COM Maruwa MOMOTARO’S in Japan's regional Top East League Group A competition.[2]

He previously played for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby.[3][4]

Tuipulotu also played in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition for Manawatu (2019),[5] Auckland (2020, 2021, 2023)[6][7][1] and Hawke's Bay (2022).[8]

Tuipulotu played for both Samoa and Tonga's Under 20 sides, while also being called up to the New Zealand Under 20 training squad.[9]

On 27 May 2022, Tuipulotu was named in the Tongan national team for the 2022 Pacific Nations Cup and the Asia/Pacific qualification match for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[10] He made his international test debut for Tonga on 2 July 2022 against Fiji.[11]

Reference list

  1. ^ a b "Sione Tuipulotu". New Zealand Rugby History. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  2. ^ "選手紹介" [Player introductions]. AZ-COM Maruwa MOMOTARO’S. 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  3. ^ "Moana Pasifika community celebrates historic first Super Rugby squad". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 22 November 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Moana Pasifika name 2023 DHL Super Rugby Pacific Squad". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 22 November 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  5. ^ "Reinvigorated Manawatu ready for 2019". allblacks.com. 30 July 2019. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Experience and Pedigree will be the key for Auckland's 2020 Mitre 10 Cup squad". Auckland Rugby Union (Press release). 2 September 2020. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  7. ^ "An experienced and talented group of Aucklanders assembled for the 2021 NPC". Auckland Rugby Union (Press release). 2 August 2021. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Magpies 2022 squad announced". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union (Press release). 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Sione Tuipulotu in All Black U20's training squad". Ardmore Marist. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Our Ikale Tahi squad for the Pacific Nations & World Cup Qualifier 2022. Congratulations to all the players who have made the team". Tonga Rugby Union – via Facebook. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Ikale Tahi squad to play Fiji this Saturday Pacific Nations Cup 2022". Tonga Rugby Union – via Facebook. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.