Tuipulotu desperate to prove he’s a true Scotsman
GLASGOW new boy Sione Tuipulotu might not look or sound like a typical Scottish rugby player – but the influence of his Glaswegian granny has created a deep emotional connection with the country.
Born and raised in Melbourne, the 24-year-old arrived on these shores at the start of the summer following a spell playing in Japan.
And the hard-running centre was immediately added to the Scotland squad for their summer schedule.
He missed out on a cap when all three scheduled games were cancelled due to Covid but he’s determined to start the 2021-22 season with a bang at Glasgow to keep himself in contention for international honours during the November Test series.
Tuipulotu, whose surname is taken from his Tongan father, said: “I’m really close with my Grandma who has a thick Scottish accent so I always knew I was Scots.
“But the possibility of coming over here only got real for me when I was about 21 or 22. That’s when my manager made it clear that Scottish Rugby were keen to possibly get me over.
“The timing just matched up perfectly for where I was with my rugby and where I wanted to go. I spoke with Gregor Townsend over Facetime and with Danny Wilson as well. They basically gave me the rundown about how it would be a good move.
“I’m happy that I made the decision. Now I want to build momentum and have the best season that I can for Glasgow.
“If I do that then I can be good enough for Test rugby.”