Taniela Tupou Linked with Move to France as Section Paloise Make Approach
Taniela Tupou may soon be on the move again, with RugbyPass reporting that French Top 14 side Section Paloise have made a formal approach for the Wallabies prop.
The 29-year-old could join the French outfit after the 2025 British & Irish Lions series, and thanks to the 2022 updates to the Giteau Law, he would remain eligible for Wallabies selection despite playing abroad.
Tupou has spent his entire professional rugby career in Australia, debuting in Super Rugby with the Queensland Reds in 2016. He gained early recognition during his school days at Auckland’s Sacred Heart College, where his powerful performances earned him viral fame.
He quickly became a fixture in the Reds’ front row under coaches Nick Stiles and Brad Thorn, amassing 90 appearances for the club. His international career began in 2017 with a debut against Scotland at Murrayfield, and he has since represented Australia in 58 Tests, including appearances at both the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups.
In 2024, Tupou joined the Melbourne Rebels, but following the club’s removal from Super Rugby Pacific at the end of the season, he was signed by the NSW Waratahs. He’s played in six of their first eight matches this year under a one-year contract, and there has been no confirmation yet regarding an extension.
Section Paloise are believed to be seeking a replacement for departing tighthead Harry Williams, who is expected to return to England to join Harlequins. The French club has already secured Argentina internationals Julián Montoya and Facundo Isa and appears eager to further bolster their forward pack with experienced international talent.
Currently listed at 148kg by the Waratahs, Tupou has so far declined several overseas offers to maintain his eligibility for national selection. Whether that commitment continues beyond 2025 remains uncertain.
