Latest news with #CarwynTuipulotu
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Young Wales international's new life gamble pays off after telling Welsh region he'd had enough
Young Wales international's new life gamble pays off after telling Welsh region he'd had enough He wasn't getting picked so told the coach he'd had enough. Now, he's been rewarded in the Top 14 after some impressive performances Carwyn Tuipulotu has started a new chapter in France Welsh back-row Carwyn Tuipulotu has signed a new deal with French club Section Paloise after impressing for the Top 14 side this season. Having initially joined from the Scarlets in February as a medical joker following a brief spell with Saracens, Tuipulotu went on to make nine appearances for the French outfit - crossing for two tries. As such, the club have moved to sign him up for another year, with the option of another season after that. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. 'I love the supporters and this club with its unique history and pride," said Tuipulotu. "I am very honoured and grateful to have been so quickly adopted by the Section family. "A new season is coming up. I am looking forward to it; the club is building something strong and special.' Head coach Sébastien Piqueronies added : "Through his commitment and performances, Carwyn has demonstrated that he's at TOP 14 level. Article continues below "We're delighted to be able to count on him next season. Our third line is becoming more robust and will be even more of a strength in the coming season." The back row has moved overseas. (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Tuipulotu had long been tipped for senior Wales honours after catching the eye of previous coach Warren Gatland and playing for Wales Under 20s, but fell out of favour at the Scarlets this season, with the Welsh region letting him go. He made 48 appearances for the Welsh region in total after making his senior debut for the club in 2020 against Ospreys. His departure came after an honest conversation with Scarlets' forwards coach Albert van den Berg resulted in him deciding he had to move for his own sake. "It was just an honest conversation and that almost became the turning point," he said. "I said to him I'd had enough and I felt like I should be playing in the team.' Article continues below Tuipulotu still has big senior internationalaspirations after choosing Wales over England as a youngster, recently telling the Times: 'Obviously I have aspirations for Wales. That's every boy's dream who comes from Wales. I'd love to have that as a goal to hopefully go on that summer tour [to Japan]. "I'm just quietly doing my business here in France. Hopefully someone notices and wants to see me." Tuipulotu is the son of former Tonga international Katilimoni, who played for Dunvant and Neath in Wales. Before joining Scarlets, Tuipulotu was part of the Newcastle Falcons academy after studying at Sedbergh School, and was picked up through the Welsh Exiles programme.
Wales Online
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as France-based powerhouse wants Wales call and star leaves Welsh club
Today's rugby news as France-based powerhouse wants Wales call and star leaves Welsh club The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world Racing92's Vinaya Kunaturaga Habosi (bottom left) vies with Pau's Carwyn Tuipulotu (second right) (Image: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images ) Here are your rugby headlines for Friday, April 25. Welsh talent targeting summer call-up Carwyn Tuipulotu says he'd love to play for Wales and be included in their tour to Japan this summer. The powerful 23-year-old, who left the Scarlets earlier this season to join Pau as a medical joker until the end of the campaign, went in search of game-time after seeing opportunities limited at Parc y Scarlets. After a good conversation with the Scarlets' forwards coach Albert van den Berg he decided he had to move for his own sake. Article continues below "It was just an honest conversation and that almost became the turning point," he said. "I said to him I'd had enough and I felt like I should be playing in the team.' Tuipulotu has since made six appearances for Pau and despite being out of contract this summer, the No 8 is eyeing international honours with Wales. 25% OFF DEAL NOW: Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. 'Obviously I have aspirations for Wales,' Tuipulotu said in an interview with The Times. 'That's every boy's dream who comes from Wales. I'd love to have that as a goal to hopefully go on that summer tour [to Japan]. I'm just quietly doing my business here in France. Hopefully someone notices and wants to see me. 'I had to make that decision between England and Wales pretty early on. I got asked when I was 15 and it was a big decision. "It was almost a decision from the heart because my mum gave me advice, my dad gave me advice. I just thought I wanted to pick Wales because Wales always felt like home to me. Wales has given so much to my family that I always want to give back.' WRU to disband and replace two teams in major change The WRU are introducing a major shake-up to the women's game in the country, replacing Brython Thunder and Gwalia lightening with two new teams linked with Wales' established men's sides. The Union have invited bids from the Ospreys, Scarlets, Dragons and Cardiff to have a stake in the women's game and the two most appropriate bidders will be awarded teams to play the Celtic Challenge next season. The successful clubs, the Union say, will link with a "major university with a track record in the women's game". They will play in a competition with two sides from Ireland and Scotland in a move the WRU hope will bridge the gap between club and international rugby. The WRU said in a statement: "The professional clubs will be asked to bid for a 'Celtic Challenge Licence' and split the funding for the two teams for the next three years until 2028, with Welsh universities also welcomed into the process. "The cost of each team will be match-funded by the WRU, with each club's operating cost expected to be £200,000 a season. "This exciting and key development for Welsh rugby recognises that women's rugby is the fastest growth area of the game, with the 2025 Rugby World Cup set to be a 'generational' moment for the sport." The new teams' coaches will be appointed by the WRU and the Union have set a deadline of Friday, May 2 for declarations of interest from the four pro Welsh clubs. WRU head of women's and girls rugby Belinda Moore said: "This is a hugely significant and exciting moment for women's rugby in Wales. It underlines the WRU's commitment to grow the game at home, and we look forward to having discussions with the professional clubs in Wales and our educational establishments. "The initial discussions that have taken place have recognised that this is a unique and exciting opportunity for Welsh rugby. "From my personal experience across the border, the English clubs have recognised the value and commercial opportunities available in women's rugby. "This will not be easy, and we expect to have detailed discussions around what support the WRU will provide and to scrutinise what the clubs who apply will offer the next generation of players in Wales." Cardiff blow as prop Litterick leaves for Scotland By Anthony Brown, PA Edinburgh have bolstered their front-row options for next season by signing Scottish-qualified props James Whitcombe and Rhys Litterick. Loosehead Whitcombe, 24, will join on a three-year contract from Leicester, while 26-year-old tighthead Litterick heads to the Hive Stadium on a two-year deal from Cardiff. Both players have featured regularly for their clubs this term. Whitcombe, who has a Falkirk-born grandmother, told Edinburgh's website: "I'm really looking forward to the move up north. It's a fresh opportunity for me, a chance to challenge myself in a new environment, both on and off the pitch. "The chance to test myself in a new league, against different styles of rugby and international opposition, was a big draw. The URC is an exciting competition and I felt that Edinburgh was the right place for me to continue developing and push myself further." Litterick, who has a Glasgow-born grandfather, said: "I'm really looking forward to making the move to Edinburgh this summer. It's a huge club full of quality players who pride themselves on their set piece and physicality, which is something I want to be a part of and learn from. As a tighthead, I take a lot of pride in my set-piece and working hard around the pitch. "I want to keep improving as a player and learning as much as I can from the coaches and the boys around me. There's a great setup in Edinburgh and I'm keen to take full advantage of that." Edinburgh are bidding to get their push for the URC play-offs back on track on Friday night when they face Zebre in Italy in a match brought forward due to the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday. A last-gasp defeat at home to the Sharks last weekend left Sean Everitt's side 11th in the table and facing a scramble to get back into the top eight over the next three games. Hamish Watson and Darcy Graham both return to the starting XV after being rested, while academy winger Jack Brown is handed his first professional start. "This is a really important fixture for us as we look to bounce back from the Sharks game," said head coach Everitt. "We know Zebre are a talented side, and they've shown they can be very strong at home. "It's vital that we go to Parma, put in another strong performance and maintain momentum as we enter the business end of the campaign." Head coach warns Wales players World Cup places 'on the line' Wales head coach Sean Lynn issued a stark reminder that World Cup berths are risk for his squad in their upcoming three fixtures. With the team languishing at the bottom of the Six Nations table and yet to secure a victory prior to their concluding match with Italy on Sunday, Lynn has underscored the significance of their performance in Parma. As the summer's World Cup looms, he indicated his willingness to overhaul what has been a stable team selection should they fail to turn around their streak of four successive defeats. "These are pressure moments, this is where I'm going and I want to see if these individuals can handle it because I've got a World Cup coming up," Lynn said. "There are World Cup places on the line over the next three games - away to Italy and the tour to Australia - and World Cup selection is not at all done. "Sunday is like cup rugby. I'm looking for a response because the World Cup is all about pressure moments and you have to enjoy that and embrace it." Speaking about the poor display against Ireland, against whom they lost 40-14, Lynn added: "I was disappointed, full-stop. The performance against Ireland was not good enough and the players and staff are aware of that." "We should have been far more competitive but you have to take your chances and you cannot concede 18 penalties against top sides. Article continues below "Most of those penalties were down to us and individuals trying to fix problems that weren't theirs to fix but resulted in putting the team under pressure. When we talk about learning from games, that was a massive area for us."
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Young Welsh international targets Wales place after eye-catching start to new life
Carwyn Tuipulotu has vowed to make a big enough splash in France the ripples will wash up all the way back home to Wales interim coach Matt Sherratt. Tuipulotu is set to make his third appearance for Pau this weekend when they face Racing 92 in Paris on Saturday. The former Wales U20 back rower joined Pau as a medical joker from the Scarlets last month and has already made a notable impact with stand-out starting performances at No.8 against Stade Francais and Perpignan. That's a far cry from the muted influence the 23-year-old was having at the Scarlets, where he had only made one replacement appearance all season. His way was blocked by Vaea Fifita and Taine Plumtree, which led to a short two-game loan spell at Saracens. READ MORE: Today's rugby news as George North shows he's still got it and Welsh club without 20 players READ MORE: Shaun Edwards showed true colours with constant phone calls to Wales star But it is in the south-west of France, in the shadows of the Pyrenees, where Tuipulotu intends to grab the limelight. 'I firmly believe that the more games I play, the more confidence I can gain, and the quicker I can develop,' says Tuipulotu, the son of former Ebbw Vale and Tonga forward Kati Tuipolotu. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. 'It was frustrating at the Scarlets because I felt I was gaining momentum last season, but then I was finding hard to get into the starting line-up this season because of the quality of their back row. 'Saracens was an eye-opener and really valuable experience to gain and now this opportunity has come along to play in a completely different rugby environment and I was eager to make sure I seized it with both hands.' Tuipulotu made his debut at Stade Francais, where Pau – currently 10th in the Top 14 – lost a thriller, 39-37. The 19-stone forward held on to his place and made a home debut last week against Perpignan, playing a big part with his powerful ball-carrying in a 23-6 victory. Now, he intends to build on that fast start and rekindle his status as a likely future Wales international who was tipped to inherit the Wales No.8 short from his cousin Taulupe Faletau. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free 'It's a time of change in Welsh rugby and I want to be a part of that,' adds Tuipulotu, who was signed by Pau as medical cover for the remainder of the French season, which runs well into June. 'This chance has suddenly come along for me to make an impact and I'm determined to take it. Playing in France, with and against so many good players, can only help me improve and hopefully catch people's eye.' The signing of Tuipulotu has added another international flag to the Pau team sheet, which already contained former All Blacks forward Luke Whitelock – brother of Sam – Argentina prop Ignacio Calles, South African hooker Dan Jooste, Fiji lock Lekima Tagitagivalu, Tongan Siate Tokolahi, three Georgians, an Australian, plus English trio Dan Robson, Joe Simmonds and Harry Williams. 'I've been really lucky, because so many of other boys have really helped me settle quickly – the likes of Lekima (Tagitagivalu), Dan (Robson), Joe (Simmonds) and Harry (Williams)," he said. 'I've been very lucky that the English-speaking players have made the transition go smoothly. It's been a bit of a whirlwind to play for three different clubs in three different countries in the same season, but what an opportunity!' As an uncapped senior player, should Tuipulotu extend his time in France, he would remain eligible for Wales as players yet to pull in the jersey are not captured by the current 25-cap rule. 'It's my ambition to play for Wales, but I know I need to work hard," he said. "That's the thing my father taught me – work hard and faith in God pays off and I'm a man of strong faith. 'I would recommend playing abroad to any player who is thinking about it. It gives you a chance to grow as a player and as a person and that has definitely been true of myself.' Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. The deal for Tuipulotu to move to France was brokered by Tom Beattie, head of rugby at TDB Sports, who is backing the latest Welshman in France to become a big success. 'Carwyn showed as an 18-year-old coming out of the Scarlets system what he could do and then made his mark with Wales U20s,' says Beattie. 'Sébastien Piqueronies, the head coach at Pau, was aware of Carwyn's talent because he had coached the French U20 side when they played against Carwyn. 'Carwyn has had great mentors at the Scarlets, players like Sione Kalamafoni and Vaea Fifita, and he's taken a lot of learnings from those experiences. 'But the key this year for Carwyn was game time. The Scarlets have a very strong back row, so this opportunity came along and thanks to people there like James Davies, we've been able to make it happen.' 'I'm certain Carwyn is really going to embrace this opportunity and I'm excited to see what happens.'
