{{Short description|NZ rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2014}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Jimmy Tupou | image = | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|8|8|df=y}} | birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand | height = {{convert|1.95|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|111|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = Pukekohe High School | university =Tuakau College | relatives = | position = Lock / loose forward | currentclub = Moana Pasifika | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2012–2017 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Counties Manukau}} | apps1 = 54 | points1 = 27 | years2 = 2013–16 | clubs2 = {{rut|Crusaders}} | apps2 = 37 | points2 = 5 | years3 = 2017–2018 | clubs3 = {{rut|Blues}} | apps3 = 16 | points3 = 5 | years4 = 2020–2023 | clubs4 = {{rut|NTT Shining Arcs}} | apps4 = 33 | points4 = 20 | years5 = 2024ー2025 | clubs5 = {{rut|Chiefs}} | apps5 = 15 | points5 = 5 | years6 = 2026– | clubs6 = Moana Pasifika | apps6 = | points6 =
| amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | amatcaps1 = | amatpoints1 = | repyears1 = 2012 | repteam1 = New Zealand U20 | repcaps1 = 4 | reppoints1 = 5 | repyears2 = | repteam2 = | repcaps2 = | reppoints2 = | clubupdate = 21 February 2021 | repupdate = 5 June 2018 }}
'''Jimmy Tupou''' (born 8 August 1992) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a lock or loose forward for the Counties Manukau Steelers in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the {{rut|Blues}} in the international Super Rugby competition.<ref name="Manukau profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.steelers.co.nz/steelers/index.php?contentid=65&profileid=103 | title=Jimmy Tupou Counties Manukau profile | accessdate=29 October 2012 | archive-date=8 February 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208012844/http://steelers.co.nz/steelers/index.php?contentid=65&profileid=103 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Squad Guide">{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Blues-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | title=Blues 2017 Squad Guide | publisher=All Blacks.com | accessdate=27 November 2016 | archive-date=27 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327154352/http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Blues-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Blues Profile">{{cite web | url=http://theblues.co.nz/players/jimmy-tupou/ | title=Jimmy Tupou Blues Player Profile | publisher=Blues Rugby | accessdate=27 November 2016}}</ref>
==Early career==
Born in Auckland, Tupou attended Pukekohe High School where he initially played rugby league before finally trying his hand at union in his senior year. He was quickly fast-tracked into the Counties Manukau Under-18 side and later played a key role in helping his club side, Patumahoe lift the McNamara Cup, the senior premier club title in Counties Manukau, in 2012.<ref name="Blues Profile"/><ref name="Sanzar Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/player-profile/?season=2015&competition=205&team=96&player=19799 | title=Jimmy Sanzar Rugby Player Profile | publisher=Sanzar Rugby | accessdate=27 November 2016}}</ref>
==Senior career==
Coming off the back of impressive performances for New Zealand at Under-20 level, Tupou made the Counties Manukau squad for the 2012 ITM Cup. Despite having just turned 20 before the tournament started, he instantly became a regular starter for the Steelers, playing nine times and scoring one try as the men from Pukekohe lifted the Championship trophy and earned promotion to the Premiership for 2013.
He continued to excel at Premiership level, playing nine times in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and later being named co-captain for the 2016 season. Being one of the senior players in an inexperienced line up he performed admirably, starting 10 of the Steelers' 11 games during a campaign which took them to the Premiership semi-finals before they succumbed to eventual winners {{rut|Canterbury}}.<ref name="it's rugby">{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_26308.html | title=Jimmy Tupou it's rugby Player Statistics | publisher=It's Rugby | accessdate=27 November 2016}}</ref>
==Super Rugby==
Strong performances in his debut season at provincial level with Counties Manukau saw him named in the {{Rut|Crusaders}} squad ahead of the 2013 Super Rugby season.<ref name="Friction">{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/7873381/Friction-over-Super-Rugby-backdoor-deals | title=Friction over Super Rugby backdoor deals | accessdate=29 October 2012 }}</ref> In a star-studded squad featuring the likes of Richie McCaw and Kieran Read in the loose forward department, Tupou's rookie season at Super Rugby level was limited to just two substitute appearances. However, over the following three seasons spent in Canterbury, he became a regular in the 23 man squad. With his appearances generally restricted to that of a second-half substitute, he turned out 12, 11 and 12 times across the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons.<ref name="it's rugby"/>
Looking for more game time, he agreed a move north to join the Auckland-based {{rut|Blues}} ahead of the 2017 Super Rugby season.<ref name="Blues">{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/80856849/Blues-sign-Jimmy-Tupou-and-prop-Alex-Hodgman-from-Crusaders | title=Blues sign Jimmy Tupou and prop Alex Hodgman from Crusaders | publisher=Rugby Heaven | date = 8 June 2016 | accessdate= 27 November 2016}}</ref>
==International==
Tupou was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 team that finished as runner-up in the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa. He scored one try in four appearances at the tournament.<ref name="U20 Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/Player/U20/2181 | title=Jimmy Tupou New Zealand U20 profile | publisher=All Blacks.com | accessdate=27 November 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref name="2012 squad">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/19220/2012-new-zealand-under-20-squad-named | title=2012 New Zealand Under 20 squad named | publisher=All Blacks.com | date=29 April 2012 | accessdate=27 November 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813210331/http://www.allblacks.com/News/19220/2012-new-zealand-under-20-squad-named | archive-date=13 August 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Career honours==
'''Counties Manukau'''
==Super Rugby statistics==
{{updated|27 November 2016}}<ref name="it's rugby"/> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height:90%; font-size:95%; width:70%;" |- ! Season !! Team !! Games !! Starts !! Sub !! Mins !! Tries !! Cons !! Pens !! Drops !! Points !! Yel !! Red |- | 2013 || {{Rut|Crusaders}} || 2 || 0 || 2 || 53 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | 2014 || {{Rut|Crusaders}} || 12 || 1 || 11 || 239 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | 2015 || {{Rut|Crusaders}} || 11 || 2 || 9 || 294 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | 2016 || {{Rut|Crusaders}} || 12 || 4 || 8 || 434 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 |- !colspan="2"|Total || 37 || 7 || 30 || 1020 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 |}
==References == {{Reflist}}
{{Moana Pasifika squad}} {{Counties Manukau NPC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tupou, Jimmy}} Category:1992 births Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:Rugby union flankers Category:Rugby union locks Category:Crusaders (rugby union) players Category:Counties Manukau rugby union players Category:Rugby union players from Auckland Category:Living people Category:People educated at Pukekohe High School Category:Blues (Super Rugby) players Category:Urayasu D-Rocks players Category:Chiefs (Super Rugby) players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Japan Category:Moana Pasifika players