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SCOTLAND skipper Sione Tuipulotu has signed a contract extension with Glasgow Warriors which can run till at the least the summer season of 2028, bringing to an finish hypothesis that he could also be lured to England by a big-money provide from Harlequins and Bathtub, or to France with Stade Francais having reportedly proven an curiosity within the 27-year-old centre.
Tuipulotu was initially recruited by Warriors forward of the 2021-22 season and wasted little time in establishing himself as a key determine in each the membership and the nationwide groups’ midfields, providing a mixture of tempo, energy and intelligence on the park, in addition to being highly-regarded for his optimistic affect throughout the squad setting.
Born and raised in Australia, Tuipulotu reduce his enamel in professional rugby with the [Melbourne] Rebels Tremendous Rugby franchise, then had a spell with Yamaha Jubilo [now called Shizuoka Blue Revs] in Japan, earlier than making the transfer to the northern hemisphere. He qualifies for Scotland via his grandmother from Greenock, and made his debut for Gregor Townsend‘s aspect in a 60-14 victory over Tonga in October 2021. He has now been capped 28 occasions by Scotland and was named captain of the aspect forward of the continued Autumn Sequence. He has performed 60 video games for Glasgow, scoring eight tries.
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Scottish Rugby is in a dangerous monetary place in the meanwhile, with Murrayfield anticipated to report a lack of over £10m for the second consecutive yr later this month, and a redundancy programme ongoing. In the meantime, Glasgow Warriors are well-stocked with centre choices – together with Scotland internationals Huw Jones, Stafford McDowall and Tom Jordan, plus present/current academy prospects Duncan Munn, Jonny Ventisei, Kerr Xmas, Ben Salmon and Alex Bryden – however head coach Franco Smith and the bean-counters have calculated that conserving maintain of a participant of Tuipulotu’s calibre and profile is in one of the best pursuits of Scottish rugby as each a sport and a enterprise.
“My largest emotion is that I’m relieved to be staying, to be sincere!” mentioned Tuipulotu. “Each time I get into contract negotiations, there’s a lot noise round, so I’m delighted to have the ability to put pen to paper.
“I’m actually completely happy in Glasgow and in Scotland, and there are issues that I wish to obtain – and want to attain – within the subsequent three years right here that I can’t wait to get caught into.
“I simply wish to maintain driving ahead with this group. It’s a very settled group with quite a lot of cohesion, and I assumed that’s shone via within the final couple of seasons. We’re all hungry for extra, and I’m eager to do my half in bringing extra silverware again to Scotstoun.
“I wish to say an enormous thanks, not solely to the coaches and my team-mates, but additionally to the Warrior Nation – they’ve all the time believed in me ever since I arrived at Scotstoun, and I promise that I’ll maintain giving my all for this membership and for Scotland.”
Smith added: “Sione is somebody who has performed an integral position within the journey that this membership continues to be on, and somebody whose ardour for this membership and this metropolis shines via each time he takes to the sector.
“He has grown into an necessary chief for us and for Scotland, and routinely drives requirements throughout all components of our squad.
“He’s somebody who’s totally purchased into what we’re constructing at Scotstoun, and we sit up for persevering with to work collectively over the approaching seasons.”
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