Logovi'i Mulipola (born 11 March 1987)[2] is a Samoan rugby player who plays prop for Doncaster Knights in the RFU Championship.
| Birth name | Logovi'i Mulipola | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 11 March 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Manono Island, Samoa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 130 kg (20 st 7 lb; 287 lb) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Club career
editMulipola joined Leicester Tigers on trial in November 2011 and made his debut as a replacement on 7 January 2012 against London Wasps in a Premiership game at Welford Road Stadium.[3] On 11 January 2012 he signed a contract until the end of the 2012 season.[4] Mulipola started the 2012 Anglo-Welsh Cup final as Leicester beat Northampton, he was a used as a 73rd minute replacement in the 2012 Premiership Final where Leicester lost to Harlequins.
For the 2012 ITM Cup, Mulipola signed with Hawke's Bay, for a six-month contract deal. This only became clear to Leicester Tigers after they signed him after his trial with the club. On 25 April 2012 it was announced Mulipola would not be joining Hawke's Bay and instead signed a new deal with Leicester to keep him in England.[5]
Mulipola started the 2013 Premiership Final at loosehead for Leicester as they beat Northampton to become English champions.[6] Injury has restricted Mulipola to just 19 starts across three seasons from 2015–18.
On 19 April 2018 it was announced Mulipola had signed for Newcastle Falcons, another Premiership side, for the 2018–19 season.[7]
He joined Gloucester on a short-term deal in July 2020.[8] He returned to Newcastle ahead of the 2020–21 season.[9] He is currently contracted to remain at Newcastle until at least the end of the 2022–23 season.[10] He left Newcastle upon the completion of his deal.
In July 2023, he was signed by Montpellier as a World Cup Joker.[11]
In December 2023, he was signed by Saracens on a short-term deal as injury cover.[12] In February 2024, he extended his deal with the club to the end of the season.
In preparation for the 2024/25 season, Logovi'i will play for Doncaster Knights in the RFU Championship.[13]
International career
editMulipola made his debut for Samoa against Papua New Guinea on 18 July 2009[2] and represented Samoa in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, where he came off the bench for 2 minutes against South Africa.
On 23 August 2019, he was named in Samoa's 34-man training squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup,[14] before being named in the final 31 on 31 August.[15]
International tries
edit- As of 20 November 2021 [16]
| Try | Opposing team | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States
|
San Sebastián, Spain | Anoeta Stadium | 2018 end-of-year rugby union internationals | 10 November 2018 | Loss | 30 – 29 |
Personal life
editMulipola has twin sons with the sister of Martin Castrogiovanni.[17]
On 16 February 2018 Mulipola represented Samoa at a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the achievements of the Commonwealth diaspora.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Tigers profile". web page. Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
- ^ a b "Logovi'i Mulipola". ESPN. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ Farmer, Stuart; Hands, David. Tigers - Official history of Leicester Football Club. The Rugby DevelopmentFoundation. p. 328. ISBN 978-0-9930213-0-5.
- ^ "Tigers secure Samoan prop". ESPN. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Leicester prop Logovi'i Mulipola signs new contract". BBC. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "2013 Premiership Final". Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Logovi'i Mulipola: Newcastle Falcons sign Leicester Tigers prop on undisclosed terms". BBC. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Logovi'i Mulipola signs for Gloucester Rugby". Gloucester Rugby. 2020-07-12. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
- ^ "Mulipola to re-join Falcons for 2020-21 season". www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "Mulipola on board for two more years". www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
- ^ "LOGOVI'I MULIPOLA IS FROM MONTPELLIER". Montpellier Herault Rugby. Montpellier Herault Rugby. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "SARACENS IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE ARRIVAL OF LOGOVI'I MULIPOLA ON A SHORT-TERM LOAN DEAL". Saracens. Saracens. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "MULIPOLA SIGNS FOR THE KNIGHTS". Doncaster Knights (Press release). 31 May 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Airey, Thomas (23 August 2019). "Alalatoa headlines Manu Samoa pre-World Cup squad". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- ^ "Two uncapped players in Samoa squad for Japan". rugbyworldcup.com. Rugby World Cup. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
- ^ "Logovi Mulipola". 20 November 2021.
- ^ "Inside Rugby: Leicester Tigers prop and new dad Logovi'i Mulipola won't be turning soft on the field". Leicester Mercury. 4 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015.
- ^ "Samoan Leicester Tigers prop Logo Mulipola has first proper visit to London for palace date with Queen". Leicester Mercury. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.