Patrick Tito Tuipulotu is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a lock.
Born on 23 January 1993 in Christchurch, he stands 198 cm tall and weighs around 120 kg.
Educated at St Peter’s College in Auckland, he has become a mainstay of the Blues in Super Rugby and Auckland in the provincial competition, while also representing the All Blacks at international level.
Known for his physicality, athleticism, work rate and leadership, he has captained the Blues and established himself as one of the more experienced and respected locks in New Zealand rugby.
Siblings
Patrick has a sister named Betty and two brothers, Hamdahn and Tito.
In 2019, Betty and Hamdahn travelled to Japan to support him during the Rugby World Cup, expressing pride in both his achievements and the fact that he remains the same person when he returns home.
Hamdahn Tuipulotu, born in 2000, is a prop who attended the same school, St Peter’s College.
He has played for Auckland and Southland in the National Provincial Championship, had involvement with the Waratahs wider training group, made Super Rugby appearances with the Blues, and later moved to Japan with Toyota Verblitz.
Tito Tuipulotu, a younger brother born in 2002, is also a prop.
Raised in Auckland, he attended St Peter’s College, played club rugby for Ponsonby, represented Auckland in the NPC, and joined Moana Pasifika for Super Rugby Pacific.
Also Read: Jordie Barrett Siblings: A Look at the Rugby Player’s Family Tree
Career
Tuipulotu began his professional career with Auckland in the 2013 ITM Cup, making seven appearances and scoring a try.
Strong form earned him a place in the Blues squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season, where he quickly established himself.
That same year he represented the New Zealand Under-20s at the Junior World Championship.
He was selected for the All Blacks in 2014 and made his Test debut as a substitute against England on 14 June 2014.
He earned his first start later that year against the USA and scored his first international try.
Injuries, including hip surgery, caused him to miss the 2015 Rugby World Cup and disrupted later seasons, yet he continued to feature for the Blues and returned to the All Blacks when fit.
He captained Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup and later became Blues captain, initially as co-captain and then full-time from around 2020.
He spent a season with Toyota Verblitz in Japan in 2022 before returning to the Blues.
By the mid-2020s he had accumulated well over 100 Super Rugby appearances for the Blues and more than 50 Test caps for New Zealand, remaining a regular in the All Blacks setup while leading the franchise.
He re-signed with the Blues and New Zealand Rugby through to the end of the 2028 season.
Accolades
With the All Blacks Tuipulotu has earned dozens of Test caps (figures reported in the mid-to-late 50s depending on the exact cut-off) and contributed to the side that finished third at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
As Blues captain he played a central role in the team’s Super Rugby Pacific title win in 2024, their first in more than two decades, helping lift the trophy despite injury challenges late in the campaign.
He has also received individual recognition such as Blues Most Valuable Player honours in earlier seasons and has been a consistent selection for major All Blacks series and tournaments when available.
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