Sione Vailanu Explained

Sione Vailanu
Fullname:Sione Langi Vailanu
Birth Date:27 January 1995
Birth Place:Nukualofa, Tonga
Height:1.850NaN0
Weight:1270NaN0
University:Asahi University
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

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.[1]

Club career

Sione's early career consisted of 4 years of playing rugby sevens in Japan with the Asahi University.[2] While he was playing in Japan he was scouted by Afa Hanipale who recommended him to invitational team Samurai RFC.[3] 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,[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8] Several injuries, including to his hand, would limit him to four games across all Saracens' competitions in the remainder of the 2017/18 season.[9]

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.[10]

In April 2021, Worcester Warriors announced that Vailanu would be joining them at Sixways Stadium on a two-year contract.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sione Vailanu. ESPN Scrum. 4 September 2023.
  2. Web site: Sione Vailanu: Saracens sign Tonga forward on 18-month deal. 4 January 2018. BBC. 1 September 2018.
  3. Web site: Samurai Rugby. mysite. en. 2018-10-23.
  4. Web site: 2017 GFI HKFC 10s. www.hongkongtens.com. 2018-10-23.
  5. Web site: Worcester Warriors sign Sione Vailanu . Premiership Rugby . 17 October 2023.
  6. Web site: Rugby Union: Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall adds Sione Vailanu to squad. Ned Keating. 4 January 2018. Ham & High. 1 September 2018.
  7. Web site: Sport: 'Ikale Tahi players allowed to skip northern tour. 18 October 2017. Radio New Zealand. 1 September 2018.
  8. Web site: Watch: Have Saracens Found The Next Billy Vunipola. Sam Tremlett. 23 August 2018. Rugby World. 1 September 2018.
  9. Web site: Match Preview. 25 August 2018. Bedford Rugby. 1 September 2018.
  10. Web site: Sione Vailanu: Wasps sign Saracens and Tonga number eight. 20 February 2019. 30 August 2019.
  11. Web site: Sione Vailanu: Coming to Sixways. 27 April 2021. 14 October 2021.