Sione Vailanu
{{short description|Tongan rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Sione Vailanu
| image = Sione Vailanu 2022.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Sione Langi Vailanu
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|01|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = Nukualofa, Tonga
| height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|127|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| school =
| university = Asahi University
| relatives =
| position = Number 8, Flanker
| currentclub = Glasgow Warriors
| years1 = 2018–2019
| clubs1 = Saracens
| apps1 = 10
| points1 = 20
| years2 = 2019–2021
| clubs2 = Wasps
| apps2 = 31
| points2 = 25
| years3 = 2021–2022
| clubs3 = Worcester Warriors
| apps3 = 21
| points3 = 15
| years4 = 2022–
| clubs4 = Glasgow Warriors
| apps4 = 20
| points4 = 30
| repyears1 = 2015
| repteam1 = Tonga U20
| repcaps1 = 4
| reppoints1 = 15
| repyears2 = 2017–
| repteam2 = Tonga
| repcaps2 = 12
| reppoints2 = 20
| clubupdate = 28 August 2023
| repupdate = 28 August 2023
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 =
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 =
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =
| ru_sevensupdate =
}}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|En-Sione Vailanu-Article.ogg|date=2019-08-30}}
Sione Langi Vailanu (born 27 January 1995) is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a number eight for United Rugby Championship club Glasgow Warriors and the Tonga national team.{{cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/player/298341.html|title=Sione Vailanu|work=ESPN Scrum|access-date=4 September 2023}}
Club career
Sione's early career consisted of 4 years of playing rugby sevens in Japan with the Asahi University.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42572240|title=Sione Vailanu: Saracens sign Tonga forward on 18-month deal|date=4 January 2018|publisher=BBC|accessdate=1 September 2018}} While he was playing in Japan he was scouted by Afa Hanipale who recommended him to invitational team Samurai RFC.{{Cite web|url=http://www.samurai-rugby.com|title=Samurai Rugby|website=mysite|language=en|access-date=2018-10-23}} Sione was invited to play for Samurai RFC at the Hong Kong 10s tournament in 2017
It was at the Hong Kong 10s, playing for Samurai RFC,{{Cite web|url=http://www.hongkongtens.com/match.php?cid=12|title=2017 {{!}} GFI HKFC 10s|website=www.hongkongtens.com|access-date=2018-10-23}} that he impressed the then Saracens Academy Director Donald Barrell. Barrell was with Samurai RFC as their forwards coach and following a successful tournament approached Sione with a view to moving to Saracens.{{cite web |url=https://premiershiprugby.com/content/worcester-warriors-sign-sione-vailanu |title=Worcester Warriors sign Sione Vailanu |publisher=Premiership Rugby |date= |access-date=17 October 2023}}
It was his performance here that led to joining the Tongan national team "Ikale Tahi" for two games, against Japan and Romania, with a defeat and victory respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union-saracens-director-of-rugby-mark-mccall-adds-sione-vailanu-to-squad-1-5343371|title=Rugby Union: Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall adds Sione Vailanu to squad|author=Ned Keating|date=4 January 2018|publisher=Ham & High|accessdate=1 September 2018}} Along with several other members of the Tongan team, he chose to depart from national duty early in order to ease the mid-season joining in England.{{cite web|url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/341837/sport-ikale-tahi-players-allowed-to-skip-northern-tour|title=Sport: 'Ikale Tahi players allowed to skip northern tour|date=18 October 2017|publisher=Radio New Zealand|accessdate=1 September 2018}}
Sione joined Saracens at the beginning of January 2018 to act both as injury and international call-up cover, with an initial contract to the end of the 2018/19 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/next-billy-vunipola-93489|title=Watch: Have Saracens Found The Next Billy Vunipola|author=Sam Tremlett|date=23 August 2018|publisher=Rugby World|accessdate=1 September 2018}} Several injuries, including to his hand, would limit him to four games across all Saracens' competitions in the remainder of the 2017/18 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordrugby.co.uk/content/match-preview-v-blackheath|title=Match Preview|date=25 August 2018|publisher=Bedford Rugby|accessdate=1 September 2018}}
In February 2019, Sione announced his signing by Wasps, in order to receive more game time and to partially fill the position vacated by Nathan Hughes who departed at the conclusion of the 2018/19 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/47308145|title=Sione Vailanu: Wasps sign Saracens and Tonga number eight|date=20 February 2019|accessdate=30 August 2019}}
In April 2021, Worcester Warriors announced that Vailanu would be joining them at Sixways Stadium on a two-year contract.{{Cite web|url=https://warriors.co.uk/2021/04/27/warriors-sign-sione-vailanu|title=Sione Vailanu: Coming to Sixways|date=27 April 2021|accessdate=14 October 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
{{Glasgow Warriors squad}}
{{Tonga 2023 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vailanu, Sione}}
Category:Saracens F.C. players
Category:Rugby union number eights
Category:Asahi University alumni
Category:Tongan rugby union players
Category:Tonga international rugby union players
Category:Worcester Warriors players
Category:Glasgow Warriors players
Category:2023 Rugby World Cup players