Manu Vunipola (rugby union, born 2000)

Manu Vunipola (born 4 May 2000)[1] is a rugby union fly-half for Saracens in Premiership Rugby. Born in New Zealand, he has represented England under-18s and England under-20s.

For his uncle, see Manu Vunipola (rugby union, born 1967).

Manu Vunipola
Birth nameChristian Fainga Manu Mapu' Aho Ta Aki-M Vunipola[1]
Date of birth (2000-05-04) 4 May 2000
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Weight92 kg (14 st 7 lb; 203 lb)[1]
SchoolHarrow School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Current team Saracens
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–present Saracens 31[1] (33[1])
Correct as of 28 February 2019

Personal life

Vunipola was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and grew up in Somerset, England.[2] He is the son of former Tongan international Elisi Vunipola,[2][3] and the cousin of Saracens teammates Billy and Mako Vunipola.[3][4][5][6] He attended The King Alfred School, Highbridge.[7] As a junior, he played for Burnham RFC,[2] and captained the Harrow School rugby team.[2][8]

Career

Club career

In 2017, Vunipola played for Saracens under-18s in the Aviva Premiership under-18s finals day.[9] Vunipola then played for Saracens Storm, the A team of Saracens, and also played on loan for Bishop's Stortford.[7] Vunipola made his Saracens debut in January 2019,[2] in a 2018–19 Premiership Rugby Cup match against Harlequins.[7][10] He made his Premiership Rugby debut in a 2018–19 match against Exeter Chiefs,[8][10] and later made his first Premiership Rugby start in a match against Worcester Warriors.[8]

In September 2019, Vunipola scored his first try for Saracens in a 2019–20 Premiership Rugby match against Wasps.[11] In January 2020, Vunipola scored 17 points in a 2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage match, as Saracens beat Ospreys 22–15.[4] In the same month, referee Luke Pearce appointed Vunipola as Saracens captain, after Pearce decided he did not want to speak with Jackson Wray during a match against Harlequins.[12] In a February 2020 Premiership Rugby match against Sale, Vunipola scored 17 points and won a man of the match award.[6]

He has re-signed with Saracens until at least the 2022–23 season.[13]

International career

In 2018, Vunipola was called up to the England under-18s team.[5] In total, he made four appearances for the team.[10] Vunipola made his first start for England under-20s in their final match of the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship against Scotland under-20s.[14][15] He had made two previous substitute appearances in the tournament.[15] He was selected for the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Argentina,[3] and also for the 2020 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[16] He played in the Six Nations match against France under-20s in Grenoble,[12][17] but missed the match against Ireland under-20s after returning to Tonga for personal reasons.[18] As of February 2020, he has made nine appearances for England under-20s.[10]

References
  1. "Manu Vunipola". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  2. "Young Gun: Saracens fly-half Manu Vunipola's cousins aren't his only influences". The Rugby Paper. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  3. "U20 Championship 2019: Pool B preview". World Rugby. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  4. "Saracens survive sending off to keep quarter-final hopes alive". Irish Independent. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  5. "A third Vunipola? England Under 18s name 2018 squad". Ruck.co.uk. 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  6. Hathaway, Adam (15 February 2020). "Manu Vunipola inspires Saracens to bonus point victory over Sale". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  7. Collings, Simon (25 January 2019). "New breed of Vunipola set for Saracens run as Manu prepares for debut". Evening Standard. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  8. "Manu Vunipola". Saracens. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  9. Lowe, Alex (17 February 2017). "Meet Manu, the latest Vunipola to catch the eye". The Times. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  10. "Manu Vunipola". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  11. "Premiership Cup: Manu Vunipola scores first try as top flight rugby union season begins". BBC Sport. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  12. Morgan, Charlie (31 January 2020). "Manu Vunipola interview: Meatballs, Saracens and the softer side of Owen Farrell". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  13. "Manu Vunipola re-signs until 2023". Saracens. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  14. "ENGLAND UNDER-20S FINISH ON A HIGH WITH SCOTLAND WIN". Six Nations Rugby. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  15. "The third Vunipola makes his first England U20 start on Friday". Ruck.co.uk. 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  16. "DICKENS NAMES ENGLAND SQUAD FOR UNDER-20S SIX NATIONS". Six Nations Rugby. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  17. "Saracens trio in England U20 squad to face France". Hampstead & Highgate Express. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  18. Watterson, Jonny (21 February 2020). "Ireland expecting 'very abrasive' English challenge at Franklin's Gardens". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
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