:Christ Tshiunza

{{infobox rugby biography

| name = Christ Tshiunza

| alt = Colour photo of Christ Tshiunza playing Ruby at U20 level, he is wearing a protective helmet

| caption = Christ Tshiunza

| image = U20_6Nations_Summer_Series-Day_2_Match_1-_Scozia_vs_Galles-38_(52174631084).jpg

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|1|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

| height = {{height|m=1.98}}

| weight = {{convert|114|kg|st lb|abbr=on}}

| position = Lock, flanker

| amatyears1 =

| amatteam1 =

| years1 = 2021–

| clubs1 = Exeter Chiefs

| apps1 = 47

| points1 = 15

| repyears1 = 2021–22

| repyears2 = 2021–

| repteam1 = Wales U20

| repteam2 = Wales

| repcaps1 = 8

| repcaps2 = 15

| reppoints1 = 10

| reppoints2 = 0

| school = Whitchurch High School

| university = University of Exeter

}}

Christ Tshiunza (born 9 January 2002) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a lock or flanker for Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership. Tshiunza has represented Wales and Wales U20.

Early life

Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, to a Congolese family, he moved to Wales in 2010.{{Cite web |last=Doel |first=Jon |date=2023-07-29 |title=Wales rugby star Christ Tshiunza's phone call leaves teacher close to tears |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-rugby-star-christ-tshiunzas-27419291 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=Wales Online |language=en}} He attended Whitchurch High School in Cardiff.

In an interview with The Times, he said: “I can’t even paint the picture. There were six of us in a one-bedroom flat. We put a single bed on the floor that I would share, two or three on the bed... Fitting in at the start was strange because you can’t communicate. I played football and tried to make friends that way. It was tough to start off with. But everyone in my primary school made an effort. Imagine being friends with someone you couldn’t speak to. I found everyone was really nice and that is why Wales resonates with my heart.”{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/christ-tshiunza-i-went-from-warzone-to-six-of-us-in-a-one-bed-cardiff-flat-9sd3d09kf|title=Christ Tshiunza: I went from warzone to six of us in a one-bed Cardiff flat|work=The Times|last=Lowe|first=Alex|date=6 October 2022|access-date=26 February 2023|archive-date=25 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225181704/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/christ-tshiunza-i-went-from-warzone-to-six-of-us-in-a-one-bed-cardiff-flat-9sd3d09kf|url-status=live}}

Club career

He was part of the Cardiff Blues academy, before going to study at University of Exeter, where he was signed by the Chiefs on a four-year contract.

On 18 September 2021, Tshiunza made his debut for Exeter Chiefs, appearing off the bench against Leicester Tigers.{{Cite web |title=Tshiunza's joy at making Chiefs debut |url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/tshiunzas-joy-at-making-chiefs-debut |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=www.exeterchiefs.co.uk |language=en-gb |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209203635/https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/tshiunzas-joy-at-making-chiefs-debut |url-status=live }}

Tshiunza was named man of the match on 25 September 2022, as the Chiefs beat Premiership champions Harlequins 43–42, as he scored the winning try after full time.{{Cite web |title=Chiefs 43 Harlequins 42 |url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-43-harlequins-42 |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=www.exeterchiefs.co.uk |language=en-gb |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209203636/https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-43-harlequins-42 |url-status=live }} He scored his first try in the Champions Cup on 21 January 2023, as the Chiefs beat Castres 40–3 to secure their place in the knockouts.{{Cite web |title=Exeter Chiefs v Castres - Rugby Union |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/match/EVP3977169 |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209203635/https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/match/EVP3977169 |url-status=live }}

International career

At international level, before making his debut for Wales in 2021, he was qualified to play for England, Wales or France, as well as his native DR Congo.

He played in a friendly match for England Under-20s in March 2021.{{cite news |last=Orders |first=Mark |date=7 March 2021 |title=Wales respond to English interest in Christ Tshiunza after stellar prospect features for England U20s |website=Wales Online |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-respond-english-interest-christ-19984547 |accessdate=13 October 2021 |archive-date=9 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109091345/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-respond-english-interest-christ-19984547 |url-status=live }} He was then called up by Wales for the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship,{{cite news |date=12 June 2021 |title=Alex Mann: Cardiff Blues back-row captains Wales U20s for Six Nations |website=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57453190 |accessdate=13 October 2021 |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028180136/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57453190 |url-status=live }} playing in four of their five matches and scoring the opening try in the final match against Scotland.{{cite news |date=13 July 2021 |title=U20 Six Nations: Scotland U20s 24-32 Wales U20s |website=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57808334 |accessdate=13 October 2021 |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028180148/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57808334 |url-status=live }}

In October 2021, he was called up to the Wales senior team for their Autumn international series against New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji and Australia.{{cite news |date=13 October 2021 |title=Christ Tshiunza: Wales call up uncapped teenage Exeter lock for autumn Tests |website=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58896583 |accessdate=13 October 2021 |archive-date=13 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013121249/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58896583 |url-status=live }} He made his international debut against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium on 14 November 2021.{{cite news |date=14 November 2021 |title=Wales 38-23 Fiji |publisher=Autumn Internationals |url=https://www.autumn-internationals.co.uk/2021/wales-v-fiji.html |accessdate=8 December 2021 |archive-date=14 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114160255/https://www.autumn-internationals.co.uk/2021/wales-v-fiji.html |url-status=live }}

A hamstring injury ruled Tshiunza out of contention for the 2022 Six Nations Championship.{{Cite web |last=James |first=Ben |date=2022-02-03 |title=Christ Tshiunza ruled out of Six Nations in fresh Wales injury blow |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-star-christ-tshiunza-ruled-22973854 |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=WalesOnline |language=en |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209203635/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-star-christ-tshiunza-ruled-22973854 |url-status=live }}

Tshiunza returned to Wales U20 in July 2022, for the U20 Summer Series, scoring against Italy, and reaching the final to play South Africa.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-16 |title=Tshiunza included in Wales squad for Summer Series |url=https://u20.sixnationsrugby.com/2022/06/16/tshiunza-included-in-wales-squad-for-summer-series/ |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Under-20 Six Nations |language=en-GB |archive-date=28 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128030056/https://u20.sixnationsrugby.com/2022/06/16/tshiunza-included-in-wales-squad-for-summer-series/ |url-status=live }}

On 18 October 2022 Tshiunza was selected in the squad for the 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals, and came off the bench in the first test against New Zealand.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-24 |title=Wales Autumn Internationals Squad 2022 – Team to play Argentina |url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/wales-countries/wales-team-to-play-argentina-131102 |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Rugby World |language=en-US |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209203635/https://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/wales-countries/wales-team-to-play-argentina-131102 |url-status=live }} Tshiunza missed the following match against Argentina due to injury, and was unavailable for the final match against Australia due to the match falling outside the designated test window.{{Cite news |title=Rees-Zammit switches to full-back for Pumas match |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/63576632 |access-date=2023-02-09 |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209205137/https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/63576632 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Doel |first=Jon |date=2022-11-16 |title=Tonight's rugby news as Pivac relives devastating Wales training ground incident |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/tonights-rugby-news-pivac-relives-25532231 |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=WalesOnline |language=en |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209203635/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/tonights-rugby-news-pivac-relives-25532231 |url-status=live }}

Tshiunza was named in the Wales squad for the 2023 Six Nations Championship.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-17 |title=Owens captains new 37-man Wales squad - Welsh Rugby Union |url=https://www.wru.wales/2023/01/owens-captains-new-37-man-wales-squad/ |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Welsh Rugby Union {{!}} Wales & Regions |language=en-GB |archive-date=16 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216004128/https://www.wru.wales/2023/01/owens-captains-new-37-man-wales-squad/ |url-status=live }}