Premiership
Leicester Tigers raid Irish Provinces for double signing.
1 Munster, 1 Leinster.
Leicester Tigers have announced 3 new signings. 2 of which are coming from Irish Provinces, Leinster & Munster.
The first new signing sees Callum Green return to Leicester Tigers. Originally from Norwich, Green came through the Tigers academy, leading the team as captain in his final year before moving into senior rugby and made his senior debut for the club at the end of the 2008/09 season as a teenager.
After a spell with Yorkshire Carnegie, he joined Newcastle in 2014 and has made more than 100 first-team appearances for the Falcons.
Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy, welcoming Green’s signing, said: “Calum has played a lot of senior rugby with Carnegie and then the Falcons and has firmly established himself as a Premiership player.
“His stats have been particularly good at the lineout in the last couple of seasons and he is a real hard-worker in the forward pack.”
“We think he will add a lot to the group here when he returns and we look forward to welcoming him back to Tigers this summer.”
Ireland international Noel Reid has also agreed to a move to Leicester Tigers from Leinster for the start of the 2019/20 season.
Capped by Ireland in 2014, Reid began his rugby career with St Michael’s College and Clontarf before making his Leinster debut in 2011.
Reid, 28, has played at fly-half and centre in a century of appearances during seven seasons at Leinster.
Confirming the signing, Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said: “I’ve been aware of Noel’s qualities for some time in a very successful Leinster set-up and I’m very happy to be able to bring him to Welford Road.
“He is a natural footballer and a versatile player who has worked with top-class players at Leinster and Ireland.
“That experience will be very important to us over a tough and competitive season, and we look forward to seeing his influence within the squad here.”
Reid said: “I’m very excited to be joining a club like Leicester, with its history and success in the game, and to become a Tigers player next season.”
“I’ve enjoyed my time at Leinster and it will be sad to leave the club, staff and players at the end of the season, this place will always be special to me.
Completing the trio of signings is South African international centre Jaco Taute who will arrive from Munster in time for the start of the 2019/20 season.
The 27-year-old Taute played Super Rugby with the Lions and Stormers before moving to Munster, initially on a short-term contract in 2016.
He scored two tries in a win over Tigers in the European Cup during December 2016 and was named in the Pro14 Dream Team at the end of that season.
Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said:
“We’ve obviously seen Jaco close-up in European competition and he is a big, physical unit in the backline with extensive experience in the southern hemisphere and also at the top-end of European rugby.
“He is an option at centre or at full-back for us and we look forward to welcoming him in the pre-season period.”
Taute said: “I am looking forward to the challenge of the Premiership and excited to be joining a club like Leicester tigers.”
“Leicester has a rich history and I want to contribute to creating even more memories for the fans at Welford Road.
“I am excited about working alongside the quality players in the squad and under Geordan Murphy and his coaching team.”
The addition of Reid, Taute, Green and Crusaders star, Taufua sees the quartet commit to the club alongside England international Manu Tuilagi and fellow Tigers academy graduates Harry Wells, Ben White, Tommy Reffell, Jordan Olowofela, Harry Simmons, Tom Hardwick and Sam Lewis, who have all renewed their contracts with the club in 2019.
Geordan Murphy talks to LTTV about the signings:
Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top14 side Toulon.
The explosive centre, who starred for his country during the recent World Cup, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a further year.
He will join up with Alex Sanderson’s Sharks squad ahead of the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season.
Waisea, 33, said: “I’ve watched the Premiership for a long time and it’s always been in the back of my mind that I would love to play there one day and experience rugby in England.
“Now that opportunity has arrived and I’m really, really happy and grateful. I’m so excited to get over there and join the boys and see how I can contribute to the team.
“I have spoken to Telusa Veainu and he only has positive things to say about the club and about Manchester.
“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the guys I’ve played against, like Tom Curry and George Ford. But I also know there are a lot of really talented young players in the Sale Sharks squad and I’m excited to share my experience and help them develop as much as I can.
“I told Alex that it’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years of my career and it’s something I’m passionate about.”
Nayacalevu, who stands at 6’4” and weighs in at 16st 7lb, spent ten years at Top14 side Stade Français before making the switch to Toulon in 2022.
He has won 34 caps for Fiji, slotting in at both centre and on the wing, and captained his country at last year’s World Cup, where the Pacific Islanders made the quarter-finals, losing 30-24 to England in Marseille.
He also famously scored for Fiji in their memorable pre-World Cup win against England at Twickenham.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Phil Brantingham to join Saracens
Prop-forward Phil Brantingham will leave Newcastle Falcons in the summer to join Saracens.
The 22-year-old has played 25 games for his home town club, and leaves with the thanks and best wishes of everyone at the Falcons.
Chairman of rugby Matt Thompson said: “Phil has done well for us and we made him a good offer to stay here.
“We respect his decision and wish him all the best for his move in the summer, but between now and then he will be fully committed to finishing the season strongly for Newcastle Falcons.”
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that forward Cobus Wiese will leave the club at the end of the season to return to South Africa.
The 26-year-old lock has played almost 80 games for the club and scored five tries since joining from the DHL Stormers ahead of the 2020/21 season.
He played a key role last year as Sale reached the Premiership final, and this season he has featured a further 13 times for Alex Sanderson’s side.
Alex said: “Cobus will be missed by all of us on so many levels. He’s the most polite and courteous of people off the field, but the most wildly excitable man on the field, and on a night out.
“To say Cobus wears his heart on his sleeve is to do him a disservice with regards to his emotional commitment for which his body has paid the price on occasion.
“He leads by example and has earnt the respect and adoration of the group both on a professional and a personal level. We wish him every success and happiness with his move back home.”
Everyone at Sale Sharks would like to thank Cobus for his contribution to the club and the team during his time here and we wish him all the very best for the future.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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