View source for Manu Vunipola (rugby union, born 2000)

{{short description|NZ rugby union player}}
{{For|his uncle|Manu Vunipola (rugby union, born 1967)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name               = Manu Vunipola
| image              =
| birth_name         = Christian Fainga Manu Mapu' Aho Ta Aki-M Vunipola<ref name=ESPN>{{cite web| url= http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/301431.html| title= Manu Vunipola| publisher=ESPNscrum| access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref>
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2000|5|4}}
| birth_place        = [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]
| death_date         =
| death_place        =
| height             = {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name=ESPN/>
| weight             = {{convert|92|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=ESPN/>
| school             = [[Harrow School]]
| university         =
| relatives          =
| position           = [[Fly-half (rugby union)|Fly-half]]
| currentclub        = [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]]
| years1             = 2018–2024
| clubs1             = [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]]
| apps1              = 52
| points1            = 230
| years2             = 2024–
| clubs2             = [[Mie Honda Heat]]
| apps2              = 0
| points2            = 0
| clubupdate         = 29 November 2024
| repyears1          =
| repteam1           =
| repcaps1           =
| reppoints1         =
| repupdate          =
}}
'''Manu Vunipola''' (born 4 May 2000)<ref name=ESPN/> is a [[rugby union]] [[Fly-half (rugby union)|fly-half]] for [[Mie Honda Heat]] in Japan [[Japan Rugby League One|League One]] competition. Born in New Zealand, he has represented [[England national under-18 rugby union team|England under-18s]] and [[England national under-20 rugby union team|England under-20s]].
==Personal life==
Vunipola was born in [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]], and grew up in [[Somerset]], England.<ref name=RP>{{cite news| url=https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/32281/young-gun-saracens-fly-half-manu-vunipola/| title= Young Gun: Saracens fly-half Manu Vunipola's cousins aren't his only influences| work=The Rugby Paper| date=19 March 2019| access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> He is the son of former Tongan international [[Elisi Vunipola]],<ref name=RP/><ref name=WR>{{cite web| url= https://www.world.rugby/u20/news/425040?lang=en| title= U20 Championship 2019: Pool B preview| publisher=[[World Rugby]]|access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> and the cousin of [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] teammates [[Billy Vunipola|Billy]] and [[Mako Vunipola]].<ref name=WR/><ref name=Ind>{{cite news| url= https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/champions-cup/saracens-survive-sending-off-to-keep-quarter-final-hopes-alive-38853746.html| title= Saracens survive sending off to keep quarter-final hopes alive| work=[[Irish Independent]]| date=12 January 2020| access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=Ruck>{{cite web| url= https://www.ruck.co.uk/third-vunipola-england-18s-name-2018-squad/| title= A third Vunipola? England Under 18s name 2018 squad| publisher=Ruck.co.uk| date=2018| access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=Telegraph>{{cite news| url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2020/02/15/manu-vunipola-inspires-saracens-bonus-point-victory-sale/| title= Manu Vunipola inspires Saracens to bonus point victory over Sale| last=Hathaway| first=Adam| work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]| url-access=subscription| date=15 February 2020| access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> He attended [[The King Alfred School, Highbridge]].<ref name=Standard>{{cite news| url= https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby/new-breed-vunipola-saracens-run-manu-prepares-debut-a4049166.html| title= New breed of Vunipola set for Saracens run as Manu prepares for debut| last=Collings| first=Simon| work=[[Evening Standard]]| date=25 January 2019| access-date= 8 March 2020}}</ref> As a junior, he played for [[Burnham-on-Sea|Burnham]] RFC,<ref name=RP/> and captained the [[Harrow School]] rugby team.<ref name=RP/><ref name=Sar>{{cite web| url= https://www.saracens.com/squads/manu-vunipola/| title=Manu Vunipola| publisher=[[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]]|access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref>
==Career==
===Club career===
In 2017, Vunipola played for Saracens under-18s in the Aviva Premiership under-18s finals day.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/meet-manu-the-latest-vunipola-to-catch-the-eye-hrsjk3wf6| title= Meet Manu, the latest Vunipola to catch the eye| last=Lowe| first=Alex|work=[[The Times]]| url-access=subscription| date=17 February 2017| access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref> Vunipola then played for Saracens Storm, the A team of Saracens, and also played on loan for [[Bishop's Stortford RFC|Bishop's Stortford]].<ref name=Standard/> Vunipola made his Saracens debut in January 2019,<ref name=RP/> in a [[2018–19 Premiership Rugby Cup]] match against [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]].<ref name=Standard/><ref name=Eng>{{cite web| url= https://www.englandrugby.com/england/mens-development/u20s-squad/manu-vunipola| title= Manu Vunipola| publisher=[[England national rugby union team|England Rugby]]| access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> He made his [[Premiership Rugby]] debut in a [[2018–19 Premiership Rugby|2018–19]] match against [[Exeter Chiefs]],<ref name=Sar/><ref name=Eng/> and later made his first Premiership Rugby start in a match against [[Worcester Warriors]].<ref name=Sar/>
In September 2019, Vunipola scored his first try for Saracens in a [[2019–20 Premiership Rugby]] match against [[Wasps RFC|Wasps]].<ref name=BBC>{{cite news| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49782275| title= Premiership Cup: Manu Vunipola scores first try as top flight rugby union season begins| work=[[BBC Sport]]| date=21 September 2019| access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> In January 2020, Vunipola scored 17 points in a [[2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage]] match, as Saracens beat [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] 22–15.<ref name=Ind/> 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.<ref name=Telegraph2>{{cite news| url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2020/01/31/manu-vunipola-interview-meatballs-saracens-softer-side-owen/| title= Manu Vunipola interview: Meatballs, Saracens and the softer side of Owen Farrell| last=Morgan| first=Charlie| work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]| url-access=subscription| date=31 January 2020| access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> In a February 2020 Premiership Rugby match against [[Sale Sharks|Sale]], Vunipola scored 17 points and won a man of the match award.<ref name=Telegraph/>
He has re-signed with Saracens until at least the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-08|title=Manu Vunipola re-signs until 2023|url=https://www.saracens.com/manu-vunipola-re-signs-until-2023/|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Saracens|language=en-GB}}</ref>
On 28 January 2024, it was confirmed that Manu left Saracens to move to Japan to sign for [[Mie Honda Heat]] in their domestic [[Japan Rugby League One|League One]] competition from the 2024-25 season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.honda-heat.jp/member/2024/93/|publisher=Honda Heat.jp|title=Manu Vunipola Player Profile|date=28 January 2024|accessdate=29 November 2024|language=ja}}</ref>
===International career===
In 2018, Vunipola was called up to the [[England national under-18 rugby union team|England under-18s]] team.<ref name=Ruck/> In total, he made four appearances for the team.<ref name=Eng/> Vunipola made his first start for [[England national under-20 rugby union team|England under-20s]] in their final match of the [[2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship]] against [[Scotland national under-20 rugby union team|Scotland under-20s]].<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/report/england-under-20s-finish-on-a-high-with-scotland-win/#report| title= ENGLAND UNDER-20S FINISH ON A HIGH WITH SCOTLAND WIN| publisher=Six Nations Rugby| date=15 March 2019| access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=Ruck2>{{cite web| url=https://www.ruck.co.uk/the-third-vunipola-makes-his-england-u20-debut-on-friday/| title=The third Vunipola makes his first England U20 start on Friday| publisher=Ruck.co.uk| date=2018| access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> He had made two previous substitute appearances in the tournament.<ref name=Ruck2/> He was selected for the [[2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship]] in Argentina,<ref name=WR/> and also for the [[2020 Six Nations Under 20s Championship]].<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/2020/01/03/dickens-names-england-squad-for-under-20s-six-nations/| title= DICKENS NAMES ENGLAND SQUAD FOR UNDER-20S SIX NATIONS| publisher=Six Nations Rugby| date=3 January 2020| access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> He played in the Six Nations match against [[France national under-20 rugby union team|France under-20s]] in [[Grenoble]],<ref name=Telegraph2/><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/sport/rugby/saracens-trio-in-england-u20-squad-for-six-nations-opener-1-6491103| title= Saracens trio in England U20 squad to face France| work=[[Hampstead & Highgate Express]]| date=30 January 2020|access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> but missed the match against [[Ireland national under-20 rugby union team|Ireland under-20s]] after returning to Tonga for personal reasons.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/ireland-expecting-very-abrasive-english-challenge-at-franklin-s-gardens-1.4179984| title= Ireland expecting 'very abrasive' English challenge at Franklin's Gardens| last=Watterson| first=Jonny| work=[[The Irish Times]]| date=21 February 2020| access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref> As of February 2020, he has made nine appearances for England under-20s.<ref name=Eng/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://www.saracens.com/squads/manu-vunipola/ Saracens profile]
{{Saracens F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vunipola, Manu}}
[[Category:2000 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English people of Tongan descent]]
[[Category:English rugby union players]]
[[Category:New Zealand emigrants to England]]
[[Category:New Zealand sportspeople of Tongan descent]]
[[Category:New Zealand rugby union players]]
[[Category:Rugby union fly-halves]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Auckland]]
[[Category:Saracens F.C. players]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Somerset]]
[[Category:People educated at Harrow School]]