How a Melbourne grandmother born outside Glasgow inspired a Junior Wallaby to be Scotland’s new captain
- Sione Tuipulotu is Scotland’s new rugby captain
- Born in Victoria, played for Junior Wallabies
- Eligible for Scotland through his grandmother
Melbourne grandmother Jaqueline Thomson is the inspiration behind Scotland’s new rugby captain, who also happens to be a former Junior Wallaby.
Sione Tuipulotu, 27, was born in Victoria and represented the Melbourne Rebels between 2016 and 2019.
But with limited opportunities at Super Rugby level, he decided to test himself abroad.
The running center Tuipulotu moved to Japan and then to Scotland, where he joined the Glasgow Warriors in 2020.
His stellar performances at club level soon saw him called up to the national team, and he was a revelation in 29 Tests.
So when Scotland coach Gregor Townsend was looking for a new skipper, he had no hesitation in handing the nod to Tuipulotu.
Adding to the occasion, younger sibling Mosese Tuipulotu – also a centre-back – has been named to play in the 45-man squad ahead of the international matches in November.
The siblings qualified for the Scottish national team through their maternal grandmother Thomson, who grew up in Greenock, outside Glasgow.
Melbourne-born Sione Tuipulotu was recently named Scotland’s new rugby captain
Sione Tuipulotu and his brother Mosese qualify for the Scottish national team through their maternal grandmother Jaqueline Thomson (pictured), who grew up outside Glasgow
She subsequently emigrated to Australia and settled in Frankston, south-east Melbourne.
Understandably, she beamed with pride when news filtered through about two of her precious grandsons.
‘We are very, very close. They have always been good to me, very respectful and kind. What could I be but proud of them?’ Thomson told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I love the game and I always watch when they play at night. This is usually at 3am.
“But that’s fine, I love it. It’s also a chance to see them. Because I miss them.’
Tuipulotu told reporters in Scotland that Thomson played a major role in raising the family.
‘My parents used to work quite hard, so we did too [boys] was going to stay with my grandmother,” he said.
Sione Tuipulotu is the second Australian to captain Scotland, following in the footsteps of former Wallaby Doug Keller in 1949.