Mosese Tuipulotu shed tears playing rugby in the backyard with older brother Sione, but the burgeoning Waratahs midfielder says he’s not planning on joining his sibling up in the United Kingdom. Well, at least not anytime soon.
Instead, Tuipulotu, who qualifies for Scotland through his grandmother and Tonga via his father, said he hoped to one day pull on the green and gold jersey.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play for the Wallabies and wear the gold jersey,” he said.
“Growing up as youngster, seeing all those great players. Even here, Michael Hooper. That’d be a great goal of mine to become a Wallaby.”
Former Rebels centre Sione Tuipulotu has been one of the best in the 2023 Six Nations, but younger brother Mosese doesn’t plan on joining him. Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images
Tuipulotu, 22, caught the eye of many on Saturday as the powerfully built centre ran onto a Lalakai Foketi offload to score a simple try in the first half of the Waratahs’ 33-32 win over the Queensland Reds in their second trial of 2023.
Punchy and athletic and blessed with an exciting skill-set, Tuipulotu looks eerily similar to his older brother who left the Rebels after limited opportunities and is now carving up the Six Nations.
Sione Tuipulotu, who was a Junior Wallaby but was told he was too small at the Rebels, has emerged as one of the most exciting inside centres in the world and was pivotal in Scotland’s victory over England at Twickenham in their Six Nations opener earlier in the month.
Mosese said his older brother was a mentor for him, but added he only had gold eyes when watching the Wallabies play against Scotland.
“Mate, I’m backing gold,” he said. “Obviously that’s my brother and that’s my blood and I’m always going to support him, but I was born in Australia, I’m always going to support them.
“There was a few tears shed in the backyard, but it’s all part of it and it made us tough.
“He’s been a great mentor in my life and he’s the one that motivated me to get to get into rugby, so whenever I need advice, I’m always going to him. He’s obviously had his challenges in the past and I have as well, so that’s where I go to for advice.”
Mosese Tuipulotu in action for the Waratahs against the Brumbies during their pre-season trial of 2023. Photo: Waratahs Media – Julius Dimataga
With centres Lalakai Foketi and Izaia Perese playing for the Wallabies over the past two years, Tuipulotu has a tough challenge in front of him if he’s to get regular minutes for the Waratahs.
But injury free at long last following a devastating ACL injury in 2021 and quads injuries last year, Tuipulotu said he was happy to be healthy and keen to put the pressure on his teammates after making the move to Sydney during Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdown.
“I’ve been pretty nervous at times come into these trials and mixing it with these great players, but it’s such a great group,” he said.
“I think that’s the good thing about our team having a lot of depth, everyone’s competing for a spot. Obviously we’ve got another trial this week against Shute Shield teams, so I’m pretty excited to put my name forward for round one.”
Whether Tuipulotu stays at the Waratahs could be determined by whether Foketi and Perese stay or elect to go overseas following the World Cup, particularly with rising stars Joey Walton and Harry Wilson at the franchise.
Mosese Tuipulotu – the brother of Scottish international Sione – says he wants to play for the Wallabies. Photo: Waratahs Media – Julius Dimataga
Waratahs assistant Chris Whitaker said he had been impressed by Tuipulotu’s development and added that he hoped he stayed in Australian rugby.
“You want to keep all the best players in Australia,” said Whitaker, who spent years at the Wallabies as George Gregan’s understudy before moving and starring for Leinster late in his career.
“He’s probably lucky, he’s got a couple of options under his belt. If he keeps playing the way he’s doing, I’m sure he’s not too far away.
“He’s got a good skill set and he’s good on his feet. He’s a really balanced runner, got a good sidestep and, funny fact, I think he used to be a halfback so his passing skills are exceptional and he’s got a good long pass on him as well.
“I think just time in the saddle [is what he needs]. I think last year at the Shute Shield he got back-to-back games at the end of the season and he improved with every game, and then you’ve seen this year in preseason, he hasn’t missed a beat.”
Test forward Ned Hanigan is expected to miss up to a month of the Super Rugby season due to a knee-injury suffered early against the Reds. Photo: Dianne Manson/Getty Images
The Waratahs are likely to give many of their youngsters a run during their final pre-season match against West Harbour and Western Sydney at Concord Oval on Saturday.
One familiar face who could be given some minutes, however, is Perese, with the Wallabies back given an extra week to recover from a leg injury.
Meanwhile, Wallabies forward Ned Hanigan is set to miss up to the first month of the regular season after suffering a knee-injury.
The promising form of former Taleni Seu could will however excite Waratahs coach Darren Coleman, with the former Chiefs lock offering some height and punch in tight against the Reds.
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