Manu Vunipola (rugby union, born 1967)

For his nephew, see Manu Vunipola (rugby union, born 2000).

Manu Vunipola (born circa 1967 in Kolomotu'a,^[4]) is a Tongan former rugby union player and former Tonga sevens coach. He played as scrum-half. Currently he is the Minister of Sport of Tonga.^[5]

Manu Vunipola

Date of birth	1967 (age 57–58)
Place of birth	Kolomotu'a, Tonga
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	82 kg (181 lb)
Notable relative(s)	Feʻao Vunipola (brother) Elisi Vunipola (brother) Mako Vunipola and Billy Vunipola (nephews)
Occupation(s)	Engineer, Minister of Sport of Tonga[1]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half Current team – Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1987–1999 Toa-ko-Ma'afu RFC () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1987-1991 ʻEua[2] () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1987–1999 Tonga 36 (9) National sevens team Years Team Comps   Tonga 1993 Coaching career Years Team 2012–2014[3] Tonga

Career

Vunipola debuted for Tonga in the 1987 Rugby World Cup, playing only against Wales, in Palmerston North, on 29 May 1987. He also played the 1995 Rugby World Cup, playing the matches against France and against Scotland, in Pretoria. His last international cap was during the match against Fiji in Nuku'alofa, on 26 June 1999.

Personal life

He is brother of the fly-half Elisi Vunipola and of the hooker Feʻao Vunipola, both Tongan internationals. He is also the uncle of Feʻao's sons, Billy and Mako Vunipola, both England internationals.^[6]