All Blacks

PLAYER PROFILE

Patrick Tuipulotu

Lock

KEY STATS

UPDATED

AGE

27

WEIGHT

120KG

HEIGHT

198CM

GAMES

34

POINTS

15

TRIES

3

CONV

0

PEN

0

All Blacks Next match

Argentina

VS

All Blacks

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 Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2020.

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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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.

Tuipulotu embraces Blues leadership role

Sole charge captaincy for the Blues has been embraced by lock Patrick Tuipulotu and he believes he can provide the stimulus for an improved Investec Super Rugby effort in 2020.

Whitelock calls on 2011 Canada memories as All Blacks prepare

It may be lock Sam Whitelock's third Rugby World Cup tournament with the All Blacks but if he has learnt one lesson it is that every opponent had to be respected.

All Blacks turn kicking pressure back on Springboks for win

Applying the tactic of hitting their opponent at their supposed point of strength, their kicking game, the All Blacks broke the shackles South Africa had applied in recent games to claim a 23-13 win in their Rugby World Cup pool opener in Yokohama on Saturday.

World Cup or not All Blacks always under pressure

It may be a World Cup but that didn't change the pressure involved in being an All Black.

Third tournament but Whitelock feels the excitement

All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock has played 19 Tests against South Africa in his career but is just as excited about his 20th in the World Cup opener on Saturday as he was about his first in Auckland in 2010.

More carbs the key to Tuipulotu boost

Something as basic as a dietary adjustment on game day mornings may prove one of the most important lessons All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu has learned in the game.

Patrick Tuipulotu Videos

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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...