Billy Vunipola

Billy Vunipola
Full name Viliami Vunipola
Date of birth 3 November 1992
Place of birth Brisbane, Australia
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight 126 kg (19 st 12 lb)[1]
School Castle School, Bristol
Harrow School
Notable relative(s) Mako Vunipola, Taulupe Faletau
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Number 8, Blindside Flanker
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2011–2013
2013–		 Wasps
Saracens		 39
42		 (20)
(45)
correct as of 25 April 2015.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2012

2013–		 England U20
England		 4

17		 (0)

(15)
correct as of 21 March 2015.

Billy Vunipola (born Viliami Vunipola 3 November 1992) is an English rugby union player. He plays at Back row for Saracens in the Aviva Premiership and England.

Club career

London Wasps

While at Harrow School, Billy joined the London Wasps Academy. He made his senior team debut in 2011-12 season and played 30 matches over two seasons before leaving at the end of the 2012-2013 season.

Saracens

Vunipola signed a contract in January 2013 to move to Saracens at the end of the 2012-13 Aviva Premiership.

International career

After representing England at U18 and U20 level, Billy was called up to the England Saxons Squad in January 2013. He trained with the England Squad during the 2013 Six Nations Championship and made his senior England debut during the England tour of Argentina in the test against Argentina in Salta in June 2013, coming off the bench to score a try in England's 32-3 win.[2] Earlier in the tour he played in an un-capped match against a Consur XV, in this match he completed a hat-trick in six minutes.

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster selected Billy in his squad for the Autumn Internationals.[3]

Personal life

Billy was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to former Tongan captain Fe'ao Vunipola and Methodist Minister, Rev. Iesinga Vunipola (who is also Chaplain to the UK Tongan Community).[4] He is also the nephew of two other former international players, Manu and 'Elisi Vunipola who both represented Tonga in the 1990s. His brother, Mako Vunipola, plays at prop for Saracens.

After moving to England with his family as a child, he was educated at the Castle School in Thornbury, and played junior rugby for Thornbury RFC before winning a scholarship to attend Harrow School.

International tries

Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
† x3 South American XV Montevideo, Uruguay Estadio Charrúa Summer International 2 June 2013 Win 41 – 21[5]
1  Argentina Salta, Argentina Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena Summer International 8 June 2013 Win 32 - 3 [6]
2  Italy London, England Twickenham Stadium 2015 Six Nations Championship 14 February 2015 Win 47 - 17 [7]
3  France London, England Twickenham Stadium 2015 Six Nations Championship 22 March 2015 Win 55 - 35 [8]

† Full international cap not awarded for South American XV Test match[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Billy Vunipola". Saracens. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "Argentina 3-32 England". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  3. ↑ Robert Kitson. "Chris Robshaw set to be confirmed as England captain for Australia clash | Sport". The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  4. ↑ "England v Italy: Vunipola brothers Mako and Billy want Mum to see their Sunday best". Daily Telegraph. 7 March 2013.
  5. ↑ "Consur XV 21-41 England". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  6. ↑ Mike Henson. "Argentina 3-32 England: Tourists brush Pumas aside in first Test". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
  7. ↑ "England 47 - 17 Italy". RBS Six Nations. 14 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "Epic England win not enough to deny Ireland". RBS Six Nations. 21 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "Consur XV 21-41 England". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-18.

External links