Jimmy Tupou was born and raised in Auckland and attended Pukekohe High School and Tuakau College.

Tupou began playing rugby league at Pukekohe High School before giving rugby union a go in his senior year. He made the Counties Manukau Under 18s side and played a key role in helping his club team Patumahoe win the McNamara Cup.

He was also a member of the New Zealand Under 20s team that finished as runners up in the 2012 IRB Junior World Championships in South Africa.

Tupou made the Counties Manukau squad for the 2012 ITM Cup and became a regular starter. He helped them win the Championship in that year, earning promotion to the Premiership in 2013.

Tupou was named in the 2013 Crusaders squad for the Super Rugby season and moved to the Blues in 2017.
In 2016, Tupou was named co-captain for Counties Manukau and led them to the Premiership semi-finals where they lost to eventual winners Canterbury.

In 2020, Tupou moved to Japan to play for Urayasu D-Rocks and then returned to New Zealand to play for the Chiefs from 2024-2025.

Moana Pasifika debut: Yet to debut