Billy Vunipola
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| Birth name | Viliami Vunipola | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 3 November 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Sydney, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 126 kg (19 st 12 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | The Castle School,Thornbury Harrow School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Fe'ao Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Taulupe Faletau | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
Early life
Vunipola was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.[2] After moving to Wales with his family as a child, he was educated at Griffithstown Junior School, and subsequently the Castle School in Thornbury, England, and played junior rugby for Thornbury RFC before winning a scholarship to attend Harrow School.
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.[3] 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.[4]
Billy Vunipola was named man of the match for the Scotland–England and England-Ireland and France-England matches in the 2016 Six Nations Championship.
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] |
| 4 |  Fiji |
London, England | Twickenham Stadium | 2015 Rugby World Cup | 18 September 2015 | Win | 35 – 11 [9] |
| 5 |  Australia |
Sydney, Australia | Allianz Stadium | Summer International | 25 June 2016 | Win | 44 – 40 [10] |
† Full international cap not awarded for South American XV Test match[11]
Family
Vunipola's father is former Tongan captain Fe'ao Vunipola and Methodist Minister, Rev. Iesinga Vunipola (who is also Chaplain to the UK Tongan Community).[12] He is 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.
References
- ^ a b "Billy Vunipola". EnglandRugby.com. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ "England v Italy: Vunipola brothers Mako and Billy want Mum to see their Sunday best". Daily Telegraph. 7 March 2013.
- ^ "Argentina 3–32 England". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ Robert Kitson. "Chris Robshaw set to be confirmed as England captain for Australia clash | Sport". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ^ "Consur XV 21–41 England". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^ Mike Henson. "Argentina 3–32 England: Tourists brush Pumas aside in first Test". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- ^ "England 47 – 17 Italy". RBS Six Nations. 14 February 2015.
- ^ "Epic England win not enough to deny Ireland". RBS Six Nations. 21 March 2015.
- ^ "England 35-11 Fiji". BBC. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ^ "England beat Australia to seal series whitewash". England Rugby. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
- ^ "Consur XV 21–41 England". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^ "England v Italy: Vunipola brothers Mako and Billy want Mum to see their Sunday best". Daily Telegraph. 7 March 2013.