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Manu Vunipola (rugby union, born 2000)

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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 (age 24)
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)
2018–2024 Saracens 52 (230)
2024– Mie Honda Heat 0 (0)
Correct as of 29 November 2024

Manu Vunipola (born 4 May 2000)[1] is a rugby union fly-half for Mie Honda Heat in Japan League One competition. Born in New Zealand, he has represented England under-18s and England under-20s.

Personal life

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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

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Club career

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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]

On 28 January 2024, it was confirmed that Manu left Saracens to move to Japan to sign for Mie Honda Heat in their domestic League One competition from the 2024-25 season.[14]

International career

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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.[15][16] He had made two previous substitute appearances in the tournament.[16] He was selected for the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Argentina,[3] and also for the 2020 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[17] He played in the Six Nations match against France under-20s in Grenoble,[12][18] but missed the match against Ireland under-20s after returning to Tonga for personal reasons.[19] As of February 2020, he has made nine appearances for England under-20s.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Manu Vunipola". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e "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. ^ a b c "U20 Championship 2019: Pool B preview". World Rugby. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Saracens survive sending off to keep quarter-final hopes alive". Irish Independent. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  5. ^ a b "A third Vunipola? England Under 18s name 2018 squad". Ruck.co.uk. 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  6. ^ a b Hathaway, Adam (15 February 2020). "Manu Vunipola inspires Saracens to bonus point victory over Sale". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  7. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b 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. ^ "Manu Vunipola Player Profile" (in Japanese). Honda Heat.jp. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  15. ^ "ENGLAND UNDER-20S FINISH ON A HIGH WITH SCOTLAND WIN". Six Nations Rugby. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  16. ^ a b "The third Vunipola makes his first England U20 start on Friday". Ruck.co.uk. 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  17. ^ "DICKENS NAMES ENGLAND SQUAD FOR UNDER-20S SIX NATIONS". Six Nations Rugby. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  18. ^ "Saracens trio in England U20 squad to face France". Hampstead & Highgate Express. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  19. ^ 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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