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Christ Tshiunza

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Christ Tshiunza
Colour photo of Christ Tshiunza playing Ruby at U20 level, he is wearing a protective helmet
Christ Tshiunza
Date of birth (2002-01-09) 9 January 2002 (age 22)
Place of birthKinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight114 kg (18.0 st; 251 lb)
SchoolWhitchurch High School
UniversityUniversity of Exeter
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, flanker
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021– Exeter Chiefs 42 (15)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021–22 Wales U20 8 (10)
2021– Wales 15 (0)

Christ Tshiunza (born 9 January 2002) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a lock or flanker for Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership. Tshiunza has represented Wales and Wales U20.

Early life

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Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, to a Congolese family, he moved to Wales in 2010.[1] He attended Whitchurch High School in Cardiff.[1]

In an interview with The Times, he said: “I can’t even paint the picture. There were six of us in a one-bedroom flat. We put a single bed on the floor that I would share, two or three on the bed... Fitting in at the start was strange because you can’t communicate. I played football and tried to make friends that way. It was tough to start off with. But everyone in my primary school made an effort. Imagine being friends with someone you couldn’t speak to. I found everyone was really nice and that is why Wales resonates with my heart.”[2]

Club career

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He was part of the Cardiff Blues academy, before going to study at University of Exeter, where he was signed by the Chiefs on a four-year contract.

On 18 September 2021, Tshiunza made his debut for Exeter Chiefs, appearing off the bench against Leicester Tigers.[3]

Tshiunza was named man of the match on 25 September 2022, as the Chiefs beat Premiership champions Harlequins 43–42, as he scored the winning try after full time.[4] He scored his first try in the Champions Cup on 21 January 2023, as the Chiefs beat Castres 40–3 to secure their place in the knockouts.[5]

International career

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At international level, before making his debut for Wales in 2021, he was qualified to play for England, Wales or France, as well as his native DR Congo. He played in a friendly match for England Under-20s in March 2021.[6] He was then called up by Wales for the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship,[7] playing in four of their five matches and scoring the opening try in the final match against Scotland.[8]

In October 2021, he was called up to the Wales senior team for their Autumn international series against New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji and Australia.[9] He made his international debut against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium on 14 November 2021.[10]

A hamstring injury ruled Tshiunza out of contention for the 2022 Six Nations Championship.[11]

Tshiunza returned to Wales U20 in July 2022, for the U20 Summer Series, scoring against Italy, and reaching the final to play South Africa.[12]

On 18 October 2022 Tshiunza was selected in the squad for the 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals, and came off the bench in the first test against New Zealand.[13] Tshiunza missed the following match against Argentina due to injury, and was unavailable for the final match against Australia due to the match falling outside the designated test window.[14][15]

Tshiunza was named in the Wales squad for the 2023 Six Nations Championship.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b Doel, Jon (29 July 2023). "Wales rugby star Christ Tshiunza's phone call leaves teacher close to tears". Wales Online. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  2. ^ Lowe, Alex (6 October 2022). "Christ Tshiunza: I went from warzone to six of us in a one-bed Cardiff flat". The Times. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Tshiunza's joy at making Chiefs debut". www.exeterchiefs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Chiefs 43 Harlequins 42". www.exeterchiefs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Exeter Chiefs v Castres - Rugby Union". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  6. ^ Orders, Mark (7 March 2021). "Wales respond to English interest in Christ Tshiunza after stellar prospect features for England U20s". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Alex Mann: Cardiff Blues back-row captains Wales U20s for Six Nations". BBC Sport. 12 June 2021. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  8. ^ "U20 Six Nations: Scotland U20s 24-32 Wales U20s". BBC Sport. 13 July 2021. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Christ Tshiunza: Wales call up uncapped teenage Exeter lock for autumn Tests". BBC Sport. 13 October 2021. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Wales 38-23 Fiji". Autumn Internationals. 14 November 2021. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  11. ^ James, Ben (3 February 2022). "Christ Tshiunza ruled out of Six Nations in fresh Wales injury blow". WalesOnline. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Tshiunza included in Wales squad for Summer Series". Under-20 Six Nations. 16 June 2022. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Wales Autumn Internationals Squad 2022 – Team to play Argentina". Rugby World. 24 November 2022. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Rees-Zammit switches to full-back for Pumas match". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  15. ^ Doel, Jon (16 November 2022). "Tonight's rugby news as Pivac relives devastating Wales training ground incident". WalesOnline. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Owens captains new 37-man Wales squad - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 17 January 2023. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
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