Latest news with #Sione
The Advertiser
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Footy star put knocked out teeth in his sock and kept playing before surgery
There's no doubt rugby union star Sione Taufui can inspire his teammates. The Newcastle Willdfires player had dental surgery on Tuesday after having three teeth knocked out in his team's 31-6 loss. Incredibly, the centre played on before he was eventually convinced to come from the field by the Wildfires' physiotherapist. "Sione went into a jackal and got cleaned out," his coach Scott Coleman said. "The Gordon player's shoulder went straight into his face as Sione looked up. "Sione picked up two of the three teeth - he couldn't find the other one - and played on. "Initially, he held the teeth in his hand and when the ball went to the other side of the field, he put them in his sock. "We got a turnover and kicked down field and he was the first chaser down there. "When he was walking back, our physio noticed the blood around his mouth and went out to treat him. "When Sione smiled, the physio freaked out and asked where are you teeth? He replied: in my sock. "The physio had to drag him from the field. He didn't want to be replaced." Taufui went to hospital where he was cleared of a broken jaw and had two teeth reinserted. "He had dental surgery on Tuesday and has two more lots of surgery to come," Coleman said. "He wants to play this weekend, but we have ruled him out." Coleman was confident the courage and commitment Taufui showed would rub off on his teammates after a poor display against Gordon. "We highlighted Sione's effort in our match review on Monday," Colemand said. "It was an example of someone not giving up and working for his teammates. That is the toughness and commitment we want." The loss to Gordon was the Wildfires' second straight and dropped them to third place on the Shute Shield ladder. Coleman hopes to have fly-half Connor Winchester and fullback Peta Alofipo (groin) available against the Galloping Greens. Both face fitness tests on Thursday. Winchester hasn't played since the 40-20 win over Norths on May 17 after succumbing to bone bruising in his left leg. "Connor had scans on his leg last week. The bone bruising is healing but is not completely right," Coleman said. "He did modified training on Tuesday and has pulled up well. If he gets through a full session on Thursday and has no complaints on Friday, he will play. "We have missed him. His calmness and ability to understand and execute a game plan is exceptional." Randwick are fresh from a 33-31 win over Warrighah and have a host on NSW Waratahs back on deck. "Halback Michael McDonald played against Warringah and they are expected to have Lawson Creighton, Triston Reilly and possibly Max Jorgensen back this week," Coleman said. There's no doubt rugby union star Sione Taufui can inspire his teammates. The Newcastle Willdfires player had dental surgery on Tuesday after having three teeth knocked out in his team's 31-6 loss. Incredibly, the centre played on before he was eventually convinced to come from the field by the Wildfires' physiotherapist. "Sione went into a jackal and got cleaned out," his coach Scott Coleman said. "The Gordon player's shoulder went straight into his face as Sione looked up. "Sione picked up two of the three teeth - he couldn't find the other one - and played on. "Initially, he held the teeth in his hand and when the ball went to the other side of the field, he put them in his sock. "We got a turnover and kicked down field and he was the first chaser down there. "When he was walking back, our physio noticed the blood around his mouth and went out to treat him. "When Sione smiled, the physio freaked out and asked where are you teeth? He replied: in my sock. "The physio had to drag him from the field. He didn't want to be replaced." Taufui went to hospital where he was cleared of a broken jaw and had two teeth reinserted. "He had dental surgery on Tuesday and has two more lots of surgery to come," Coleman said. "He wants to play this weekend, but we have ruled him out." Coleman was confident the courage and commitment Taufui showed would rub off on his teammates after a poor display against Gordon. "We highlighted Sione's effort in our match review on Monday," Colemand said. "It was an example of someone not giving up and working for his teammates. That is the toughness and commitment we want." The loss to Gordon was the Wildfires' second straight and dropped them to third place on the Shute Shield ladder. Coleman hopes to have fly-half Connor Winchester and fullback Peta Alofipo (groin) available against the Galloping Greens. Both face fitness tests on Thursday. Winchester hasn't played since the 40-20 win over Norths on May 17 after succumbing to bone bruising in his left leg. "Connor had scans on his leg last week. The bone bruising is healing but is not completely right," Coleman said. "He did modified training on Tuesday and has pulled up well. If he gets through a full session on Thursday and has no complaints on Friday, he will play. "We have missed him. His calmness and ability to understand and execute a game plan is exceptional." Randwick are fresh from a 33-31 win over Warrighah and have a host on NSW Waratahs back on deck. "Halback Michael McDonald played against Warringah and they are expected to have Lawson Creighton, Triston Reilly and possibly Max Jorgensen back this week," Coleman said. There's no doubt rugby union star Sione Taufui can inspire his teammates. The Newcastle Willdfires player had dental surgery on Tuesday after having three teeth knocked out in his team's 31-6 loss. Incredibly, the centre played on before he was eventually convinced to come from the field by the Wildfires' physiotherapist. "Sione went into a jackal and got cleaned out," his coach Scott Coleman said. "The Gordon player's shoulder went straight into his face as Sione looked up. "Sione picked up two of the three teeth - he couldn't find the other one - and played on. "Initially, he held the teeth in his hand and when the ball went to the other side of the field, he put them in his sock. "We got a turnover and kicked down field and he was the first chaser down there. "When he was walking back, our physio noticed the blood around his mouth and went out to treat him. "When Sione smiled, the physio freaked out and asked where are you teeth? He replied: in my sock. "The physio had to drag him from the field. He didn't want to be replaced." Taufui went to hospital where he was cleared of a broken jaw and had two teeth reinserted. "He had dental surgery on Tuesday and has two more lots of surgery to come," Coleman said. "He wants to play this weekend, but we have ruled him out." Coleman was confident the courage and commitment Taufui showed would rub off on his teammates after a poor display against Gordon. "We highlighted Sione's effort in our match review on Monday," Colemand said. "It was an example of someone not giving up and working for his teammates. That is the toughness and commitment we want." The loss to Gordon was the Wildfires' second straight and dropped them to third place on the Shute Shield ladder. Coleman hopes to have fly-half Connor Winchester and fullback Peta Alofipo (groin) available against the Galloping Greens. Both face fitness tests on Thursday. Winchester hasn't played since the 40-20 win over Norths on May 17 after succumbing to bone bruising in his left leg. "Connor had scans on his leg last week. The bone bruising is healing but is not completely right," Coleman said. "He did modified training on Tuesday and has pulled up well. If he gets through a full session on Thursday and has no complaints on Friday, he will play. "We have missed him. His calmness and ability to understand and execute a game plan is exceptional." Randwick are fresh from a 33-31 win over Warrighah and have a host on NSW Waratahs back on deck. "Halback Michael McDonald played against Warringah and they are expected to have Lawson Creighton, Triston Reilly and possibly Max Jorgensen back this week," Coleman said. There's no doubt rugby union star Sione Taufui can inspire his teammates. The Newcastle Willdfires player had dental surgery on Tuesday after having three teeth knocked out in his team's 31-6 loss. Incredibly, the centre played on before he was eventually convinced to come from the field by the Wildfires' physiotherapist. "Sione went into a jackal and got cleaned out," his coach Scott Coleman said. "The Gordon player's shoulder went straight into his face as Sione looked up. "Sione picked up two of the three teeth - he couldn't find the other one - and played on. "Initially, he held the teeth in his hand and when the ball went to the other side of the field, he put them in his sock. "We got a turnover and kicked down field and he was the first chaser down there. "When he was walking back, our physio noticed the blood around his mouth and went out to treat him. "When Sione smiled, the physio freaked out and asked where are you teeth? He replied: in my sock. "The physio had to drag him from the field. He didn't want to be replaced." Taufui went to hospital where he was cleared of a broken jaw and had two teeth reinserted. "He had dental surgery on Tuesday and has two more lots of surgery to come," Coleman said. "He wants to play this weekend, but we have ruled him out." Coleman was confident the courage and commitment Taufui showed would rub off on his teammates after a poor display against Gordon. "We highlighted Sione's effort in our match review on Monday," Colemand said. "It was an example of someone not giving up and working for his teammates. That is the toughness and commitment we want." The loss to Gordon was the Wildfires' second straight and dropped them to third place on the Shute Shield ladder. Coleman hopes to have fly-half Connor Winchester and fullback Peta Alofipo (groin) available against the Galloping Greens. Both face fitness tests on Thursday. Winchester hasn't played since the 40-20 win over Norths on May 17 after succumbing to bone bruising in his left leg. "Connor had scans on his leg last week. The bone bruising is healing but is not completely right," Coleman said. "He did modified training on Tuesday and has pulled up well. If he gets through a full session on Thursday and has no complaints on Friday, he will play. "We have missed him. His calmness and ability to understand and execute a game plan is exceptional." Randwick are fresh from a 33-31 win over Warrighah and have a host on NSW Waratahs back on deck. "Halback Michael McDonald played against Warringah and they are expected to have Lawson Creighton, Triston Reilly and possibly Max Jorgensen back this week," Coleman said.
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rugby family inspires me to be as good as them
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 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 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' 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 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 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 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 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 the demise of Irish, Tuipulotu joined Bath's academy before marking his senior debut with a hat-trick against Ampthill in the Premiership 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 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."
