WITH three of their lock forwards out injured and another two due to be called up by Scotland, Glasgow Warriors needed to find reinforcements in that department, and they have done so by signing Brian Alainu’ese. The New-Zealand-born 22-year-old, who trained for the first time with his new team-mates yesterday, has joined for the rest of the season pending a visa and medical clearance.
Alainu’ese, who has represented the Samoan under-20 side, has moved to Scotstoun from Waikato. Last season he played twice in Super Rugby for the Chiefs, the team coached by Dave Rennie, who will take over from Gregor Townsend at Glasgow in time for next season.
“I’m really excited about joining Glasgow,” he said yesterday. “I’ve spoken to Dave Rennie about the move and he told me great things about the club and it made me want to join.
“Everyone in New Zealand knows that Glasgow Warriors is a great club and there are good people here. From what I’ve seen, Glasgow like to throw the ball around and play a fast game, and that’s the way I like to play too.”
Townsend said he had been impressed by the new recruit’s performances for Waikato. “Brian has a real physical presence and has played well for Waikato in the Mitre Cup this season,” the Warriors coach said. “He has the ability to play an off-loading game and will help our set-piece play. With Greg Peterson, Scott Cummings and Tjiuee Uanivi currently injured, we’re delighted to secure the services of such a quality second row, and we’re looking forward to integrating him into our squad.”
Jonny Gray and Tim Swinson are the two first-choice Warriors locks who are expected to named today in Scotland coach Vern Cotter’s squad for the three Autumn Tests. Glasgow are at home to the Ospreys in a PRO12 match on 25 November, the night before the Scotland-Tonga match in Kilmarnock, and there are also league games which clash with the Six Nations.
Cotter’s final season before he hands over the reins of the national team to Townsend will begin in earnest when he announces the squad, expected to contain around 32 names. The list will include several players who have yet to be passed fit for the three matches, and Cotter has the leeway to add to the squad before the first of those matches, against Australia on 12 November. Scottish Rugby hopes for record crowds for the fixtures against the Wallabies and, a week later, Argentina.
Meanwhile, Joe Schmidt, Cotter’s old assistant coach in New Zealand and France, has agreed a contract extension to stay in charge of Ireland until after the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Schmidt has been Ireland’s head coach since 2013 and led the team to the Six Nations title in the following two years.
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