All Blacks
Patrick Tuipulotu

PLAYER PROFILE

Patrick Tuipulotu

Lock

KEY STATS
UPDATED
AGE
28
WEIGHT
120KG
HEIGHT
198CM
GAMES
41
POINTS
30
TRIES
6
CONV
0
PEN
0

BIOGRAPHY

A LARGE, PHYSICAL player, Patrick Tuipulotu has developed into a top-quality lock since making his provincial debut for Auckland in 2012.

The St Peter’s College old boy continued developing his game at the highest level and played for the New Zealand Under 20 team at the 2013 Junior World Championship.

A quietly-spoken man, Tuipulotu was selected for the Blues for the 2014 Super Season and an impressive campaign saw him make the All Blacks squad for that season’s Steinlager Series against England.

He went onto play seven Tests that year, including two Tests in the Rugby Championship and three Tests on the Northern Tour.

Double hip surgery in 2015 meant a lot of time on the sidelines for the big man, whose 2016 Super Rugby season was also disrupted by a hand injury. He returned to the All Blacks side playing five Tests in 2016 and made a welcome return in 2017 for the back half of the Investec Rugby Championship and the Vista Northern Tour.

Tuipulotu has emerged as a quality leader in recent seasons and was a driving force behind the Blues revival in Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2020 and Trans-Tasman title victory in 2021.

Tuipulotu plays for the notable Ponsonby club in Auckland, the same club as All Blacks teammate Rieko Ioane.

Patrick Tuipulotu news

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PREVIEW: All Blacks v Argentina Second Test (Brisbane)
The All Blacks will be aiming for a fourth-straight bonus point win in the Fortinet Rugby Championship when they take on Argentina in Brisbane on Saturday night to maintain their ascendency at the top of the ladder.

Tuipulotu ready to get back into the fray
Injury frustrations are not new for All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu, but knowing how to come back is one benefit he hopes to apply in Saturday's Fortinet Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Brisbane.
All Blacks team named for Steinlager Series Test against Tonga
The All Blacks team has been named to play Tonga in the historic opening match of the Steinlager Series at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, on Saturday 3 July (kick-off 7.05PM), with four uncapped All Blacks named in the matchday 23.
The Summer of 2020/2021: What our players got up to
Kiwis all over the country got to enjoy a well-deserved summer break after a tough 2020. Our New Zealand rugby players were no different. We had a scroll through the social channels and caught up with what some of our players got up to over the summer.

The New Zealand Rugby Form XV: 2020
AllBlacks.com writers Jordyn McLean and Andy Burt look back on the year that was 2020 and select their Form XV for 2020.
All Blacks finish 2020 on a high
Fuelled by the disappointment of their first loss to Argentina in their last outing, the All Blacks responded in the expected manner to all but secure another Investec Tri Nations when winning 38-0 in Newcastle on Saturday.
All Blacks have to trust their ability - Whitelock
Having been on the end of the last consecutive All Blacks Test losses, lock Sam Whitelock had been able to echo sentiments from that experience ahead of Saturday's final Tri Nations Test for the side, against Argentina, in Newcastle.
PREVIEW: All Blacks v Argentina (Sydney)
Argentina faces a tough return to international rugby when meeting the All Blacks in the first of two Tri Nations Tests in Sydney on Saturday.
All Blacks team named for first Investec Tri Nations Test against Argentina
The All Blacks team has been named to play Argentina in the Investec Tri Nations Test at Bankwest Stadium, Sydney on Saturday 14 November (Kick off 7.10pm NZT).
All Blacks squad named for 2020 Investec Rugby Championship
The All Blacks selectors, Head Coach Ian Foster, Assistant Head Coach John Plumtree and former All Black Grant Fox, have named the squad for the 2020 Investec Rugby Championship.
Teams named for Steinlager North v South match
The two teams for the eagerly-anticipated Steinlager North v South match at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday 5 September have been named.
Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa: Form XV
This certainly was no easy feat, but the writers for superrugby.co.nz have had a crack at choosing just 15 players to make the form side from the Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa competition. Here they are, including those who were unlucky to miss out.

Tuipulotu’s rise continues with North captaincy
Patrick Tuipulotu has come a long way from being a self-confessed ‘shy kid’ during his debut Super Rugby season in 2014 to being named as captain of the North team for the long-awaited Steinlager North v South clash on August 29.
Squads named for Steinlager North v South match
The squads for the eagerly-awaited Steinlager North vs South match scheduled for Saturday 29 August have been named.
Tuipulotu signs major deal through to 2023
New Zealand Rugby and the Blues have secured the key signature of All Blacks lock and Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu who has re-signed through until the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
New Zealand rugby players volunteering during Covid-19 lockdown
A huge amount of incredible New Zealanders have offered up their services during the Covid-19 situation and our rugby players are no different.

Staying fit in off-season paying dividends for Blues skipper Patrick Tuipulotu
Last year, Patrick Tuipulotu was unhappy with his fitness, so he made a vow to come back fitter in 2020. So far, it’s paid off.

Faiane steps up to lead Blues
Evidence of TJ Faiane's growing development in the Blues structure has been provided with his selection as captain for Saturday's Investec Super Rugby game against the Lions at Eden Park.
Tuipulotu wants his Blues to forge their own path
Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu and his management group have been keen to forge their future and Saturday's Investec Super Rugby game with the Hurricanes in Wellington would be another step for the side.
Umaga believes Blues can advance in 2020
Blues assistant coach Tana Umaga believes the side is capable of making more of an impact in Investec Super Rugby in 2020.

Patrick Tuipulotu Videos

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Let's get vaccinated Aotearoa
Hear from the All Blacks about why they have got vaccinated from Covid-19.
All Blacks look forward to 100th Test v South Africa
Patrick Tuipulotu, Nepo Laulala, Karl Tu'inukuafe and Luke Jacobson look…
All Blacks look forward to facing the Pumas
The All Blacks take on Argentina in back-to-back Tests on September 12 (Gold…
Best of the Bledisloe: 2020
Catch up on the best moments from the 2020 Bledisloe Cup series between the All…
PRESS CONFERENCE: All Blacks v Australia (Wellington)
Catch up on all the post match reaction following the opening Bledisloe Cup…
FULL COVERAGE: All Blacks 2020 squad naming
Settle in as the first All Blacks squad of 2020 is announced, including seven…
What I'm doing in my bubble: Patrick Tuipulotu
From keeping fit to learning more about the Samoan language, Patty T shows you…
PLAYER REACTION: All Blacks v South Africa (Yokohama)
Get the lowdown from the players following the opening RWC2019 victory over…
The Breakdown: Are the All Blacks ready for RWC2019?
Jeff Wilson, Grant Fox, Sir John Kirwan, John Plumtree and Ali Williams discuss…
Game day review with Patrick Tuipulotu

2014 Steinlager Series - Meet the new All Blacks
James Somerset chats with the 2 new players named in the All Blacks squad to…