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Welsh-qualified hooker Kepu Tuipulotu will soon be lost to Wales for at least three years after he was named in the England A squad to take on an All Blacks XV, according to reports. The Telegraph are reporting the Bath hooker will line up against a strong All Blacks XV at the Rec next month which takes him one step closer to senior international honours. Tuipulotu is the brother of Wales women tighthead, Sisilia, and is considered one of the brightest prospects in the English game. The 19-year-old hooker was born in Pontypool to Tongan parents but qualifies for England on residency after taking up a scholarship at the prestigious Harrow School in London. Such is the teenager's potential, Warren Gatland offered him a place in the senior Wales squad for the 2024 Six Nations which he turned down. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Sources close to the Tuipulotu family told WalesOnline the national age-grade coaches in Wales did not think he was good enough, only to approach him when he got selected for England U18s. Tuipulotu made his breakthrough at senior level for Bath last season and has made three Gallagher Prem appearances off the bench this term. He is an explosive ball carrier who regularly makes significant post-contact metres and is strong at the set-piece. Tuipulotu's decision to represent England at senior international level is a severe blow for the Welsh Rugby Union who need as many quality players as possible given Wales' struggles over the past couple of years. Following the World Rugby Council's decision in October 2023 to amend the eligibility criteria, Tuipulotu is allowed to represent England at senior level with immediate effect. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free Prior to last August, time spent in school or higher education did not count towards residency because the 60 months required to qualify to represent another nation needed to be unbroken. The recent law amendment means the 60-month qualification period does not need to be unbroken, which is a big problem for the WRU given the huge volume of talented Welsh players who have taken up scholarships in English schools. Technically Tuipulotu could represent Wales or Tonga in the future if he was not to play for England for three years but that seems extremely unlikely. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news. You can also follow us on social media on our X account , Facebook , Instagram and TikTok. For more exclusive stories and in-depth analysis, you can sign up for the Inside Welsh Rugby substack newsletter here.
