Justin Tipuric


Justin Tipuric is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays for Wales as an openside flanker.

Early life

Tipuric is of Croatian descent. He grew up in Trebanos.

Club career

Tipuric plays for the Ospreys Welsh regional team, having previously played for Aberavon RFC.

International career

In June 2011 he was named in the Wales national rugby union team 45 man training squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but was ultimately left out of the final squad. He made his Wales international debut on 20 August 2011 versus Argentina as a second-half replacement. He was also included in the Wales Rugby Sevens in 10/11.
After his efforts for the Welsh side in the 2013 Six Nations Championship, he was selected by Warren Gatland for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
In August 2015 Tipuric named to the Welsh national rugby union team 47 man training squad for 2015 Rugby World Cup, and started in the home & away warm-up fixtures against Ireland, scoring tries in both fixtures and being named man of the match in the second game. Tipuric was named to the final 31 man squad, and despite his fantastic form entering the tournament, he was dropped from the starting XV in favour of returning captain Sam Warburton. He did however feature in all 5 of Wales' games scoring a try in the win 54-9 against Uruguay national rugby union team, his third successive international with a try.
After being named in the squad for the 2016 Six Nations Championship, Tipuric went on to feature in all 5 games, starting alongside longtime rival Sam Warburton against Ireland & Scotland. In the final game against Italy, Tipuric sustained a heavy concussion during a line out which resulted in Tipuric requiring a three-month break from the sport to recover, ruling him out of the summer tour to New Zealand. Following his return from injury Tipuric was included Robert Howley's squad for the 2016 end-of-year rugby union internationals, going onto start in 3 fixtures including a man of the match try scoring performance versus South Africa.
Tipuric was named in the squad for the 2017 Six Nations Championship, and started in the first fixture versus Italy.

Personal life

Tipuric is of Croatian descent,