Name Billy Vunipola Nationality Australian | Weight 130 kg Height 1.88 m | |
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Siblings Mako Vunipola, Ana Vunipola, Tiffany Vunipola Similar People Mako Vunipola, Manu Tuilagi, Nathan Hughes Profiles | ||
Billy vunipola tribute the mammoth
Billy Vunipola (born Viliami Vunipola 3 November 1992) is an English rugby union player. He plays at number 8 for Saracens in the Aviva Premiership and England.
Contents
- Billy vunipola tribute the mammoth
- Burgess big hit on billy vunipola
- Early life
- London Wasps
- Saracens
- England
- British and Irish Lions
- Family
- References
Burgess big hit on billy vunipola
Early life
Vunipola was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 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.
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.
England
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. 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.
Vunipola was named man of the match for the Scotland–England, England-Ireland and France-England matches in the 2016 Six Nations Championship.
British and Irish Lions
In April 2017, Vunipola was selected as the one of the 41 British and Irish Lions to tour New Zealand in the summer alongside with his brother Mako Vunipola. However due to an ongoing shoulder injury, he later withdrew from the squad on 21 May 2017 and was replaced by England back-row teammate James Haskell.
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). 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 is his teammate and plays at prop for Saracens and England.