Rugby family inspires me to be as good as them

BBC News

12-03-2025

2025 Guinness Under-20 Six Nations: Wales v EnglandVenue: Cardiff Arms Park Date: Friday, 14 March Kick-off: 19:30 GMTCoverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app
Throwing a pinpoint line-out ball and scrummaging are still key facets, but it is in the loose where the world's best hookers thrive.When 19-year-old Kepu Tuipulotu broke clear against Scotland in the Under-20 Six Nations and nudged through a well-weighted grubber kick to set up another England try, the Bath star showcased exactly why he is so highly rated.The kick was not a fluke. That exact skill was executed when he captained England Under-18s against South Africa."The [kicking] ability just came from when I was younger, from throwing the ball about with my mates and family," Tuipulotu told BBC Sport."My first XVs coach in Harrow gave me a kicking licence. I didn't attempt to use it a lot but it allowed me to put the ball into spaces."That has transferred on to me now as something to show I am not a typical standard hooker in hitting rucks, scrumming and throwing line-outs."Throwing the ball about in the back garden will not upskill every young hopeful, but it helps when you come from a family as rich in rugby as Tuipulotu's.His father Sione played a good chunk of his career in Wales with Pontypool, Caerphilly and Newport Gwent Dragons, and also featured at two Rugby World Cups for Tonga.His sister Sisilia props for Wales, and his cousin Carwyn Tuipulotu played for Wales Under-20s and is now impressing in France at Top 14 club Pau after recently leaving Scarlets.That is only the start of the rugby family tree. Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau is another cousin, with Scotland captain Sione and his younger brother Mosese Tuipulotu, who plays for Edinburgh, also relations.Former England internationals Billy and Mako Vunipola and their younger cousin Manu, who is now at Mie Honda Heat in Japan after playing for England Under-20s and Saracens, are also cousins, further adding to the rugby heritage.Whether it was Faletau turning up to a Bath University match to offer some feedback to his little cousin, or a simple text from Billy - the 19-year-old has always been happy to lean on his family ties."I love having them tear up in their own way and as a young player I can take parts of their game and put it into mine," he added."I try to take Carwyn's ball-carrying ability into my game, Sisilia's ability to go at the line, double pump, offload or run hard lines, and Faletau's ability off the ball to be everywhere."Having my family and extended family play rugby helps inspire me to be as good as them."
Picking England 'the right decision'
Born to Tongan parents in south Wales, Tuipulotu was educated at Harrow School and featured for London Irish at under-17 and under-18 level.Following the demise of Irish, Tuipulotu joined Bath's academy before marking his senior debut with a hat-trick against Ampthill in the Premiership Cup.Investec Champions Cup and Premiership action soon followed, but before any of that, the dynamic hooker - who weighs just over 18 stone - was already on the radar of former Wales head coach Warren Gatland.Still at school, he received a call to train with Wales during last year's Six Nations, which he declined to focus on his exams and the England pathway."It was surreal to receive that phone call," Tuipulotu recalled."But I wanted to finish my academics and focus on rugby after that. I was already going through the England pathway."I feel like I've made the right decision. At the time I had not played a game of men's rugby. I just took a step back and realised what is the best case for me in the long term."Seeing the sudden rise of the likes of Sale prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour, who played senior and England Under-20s rugby in 2024, gives Tuipulotu hope that another call to join a senior international camp could come quickly.A British and Irish Lions tour this summer could result in one, if not both, of Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie heading to Australia, and that might open the door for a young hooker to go on England's tour of Argentina in July."It is all about focusing on now and having that optimism that I could have the possibility of going," he said."But it is all about getting the head down and grafting."Before any potential senior honours, a first English Under-20 Six Nations Grand Slam since 2021 remains within touching distance.A fitting final hurdle comes against Wales in Cardiff on Friday night, when Tuipulotu expects plenty of close family to be in attendance."It'll be a big turnout as all my family live in Wales," he said with a smile."I will get plenty of chirp on the sidelines, but it will help give me motivation to do my team proud."