By turning down the advances of top English and French clubs and pledging his future to the Warriors, Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu has given Glasgow and national coach Gregor Townsend a significant boost.
Last month, RugbyPass disclosed that the 27-year-old was a target for several Top 14 teams, including Stade Francais, as well as Premiership teams Bath and Harlequins.
However, Australia-born Tuipulotu has now signed a three-year extension, meaning he will stay with the reigning URC champions until at least the summer of 2028, as his contract was set to expire at the conclusion of the season.
He said on the Warriors website, “To be honest, my biggest emotion is that I’m relieved to be staying.” “I’m thrilled to be able to put pen to paper since there’s always so much hubbub around when I enter into contract negotiations. I’m content in Glasgow and Scotland, and I’m eager to get started on some goals I need to accomplish and want to accomplish in the next three years.
All I want to do is keep moving this group forward. I felt that the last two seasons really brought out the cohesiveness and settledness of the group. We’re all craving more, and I’m eager to contribute to the return of additional cutlery to Scotstoun.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the coaches and my teammates, as well as to the Warrior Nation, who have always supported me since I came to Scotstoun. I swear to continue giving it my all for this club and for Scotland.”
Originating from the suburbs of Melbourne, Tuipulotu played Super Rugby for the Rebels and has been a huge success since coming to Glasgow three years ago following a stint with the Shizuoka Blue Revs in Japan.
He made his Scotland debut against Tonga in the fall of 2021 and has since earned 28 caps. He is a vital element of the midfield axis with centre partner Huw Jones and fly-half Finn Russell, and he is becoming a more significant player in the national lineup.
Before Scotland head coach Townsend asked him to be captain for the current Autumn Nations Series, he served as vice-captain twice during the summer tour of the Americas, against the USA and Chile.
Scotland defeated Fiji 57–17 in his maiden game as captain last Saturday; they will play world champions South Africa on Sunday.
Given that Tuipulotu is still playing rugby in Glasgow, his workload juggling club and national can be better handled, whereas exiles like Blair Kinghorn and Russell are occasionally compelled to return to play for their clubs on “bye” weekends during the Six Nations or miss Scotland training.
Jaqueline Thomson, a grandmother from Greenock who wakes up in the middle of the night to watch Tuipulotu’s matches in Australia, helps him qualify for Scotland. Tuipulotu can play both inside and outside the centre. To help her son with the autumn program, his mother, Angelina, has flown here for the entire month of November.
Mosese, the younger brother who moved to Edinburgh in the summer, was called up to the Scotland training squad for the Test matches this month for the first time, although he hasn’t made his debut yet.
In addition to playing a significant part in Glasgow’s victory in the United Rugby Championship the previous season, Tuipulotu senior has started the season in outstanding form, taking home Player of the Match honours in victories against Cardiff and Stormers. He has participated in 60 games overall for Warriors, scoring
The powerful centre has also been touted as a strong candidate to be included in Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions squad for next summer’s tour of Australia.
Tuipulotu acknowledged recently in a BBC interview he “would love to have an opportunity to go over there and play them, with a bit of unfinished business,” having left his birth country “a little bit angry” earlier in his career due to a lack of opportunities.
Warriors head coach Franco Smith recently expressed his hope that the esteem in which Tuipulotu is held in Glasgow would be a decisive factor in him staying at Scotstoun. Tuipulotu and partner Lara also had their first child, Tu’uhefohe Junior – or TJ for short – in the summer.
“Sione is someone who has played an integral role in the journey that this club continues to be on, and someone whose passion for this club and this city shines through every time he takes to the field,” Smith said.
“He has grown into an important leader for us and for Scotland, and routinely drives standards across all elements of our squad.
“He is someone who is fully bought into what we are building at Scotstoun, and we look forward to continuing to work together over the coming seasons.”
Leave a Reply