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Leinster set to sign former All Blacks centre Charlie Ngatai
By Ian Cameron
United Rugby Championship side Leinster have been linked to former All Blacks centre Charlie Ngatai.
The French press are reporting that Ngatai has turned his back on an extension with Lyon, with Leinster the side said to be favourites to sign the 31-year-old centre.
It's a fascinating signing for Leinster, who already boast British & Irish Lion Robbie Henshaw and Ireland centre Garry Ringrose among their midfield riches.
The Irish giants are renowned for producing homegrown talent and only dipping into the international market occasionally for the odd star signing.
It's very possible Leinster are looking at Ngatai as a depth addition that will give Leo Cullen's side more firepower during international windows, especially given the Rugby World Cup in France just around the corner.
They are also set to lose the services of stalwart Rory O'Loughlin, who will join Gallagher Premiership side Exeter Chiefs next season.
RugbyPass understands that the province had budgeted for a major second-row signing, but that with the transfer of one cap Springboks lock Jason Jenkins from Munster, there was plenty left in the purse for the high profile centre.
With the exception of the incoming Jenkins, there was also room in for another overseas signing, with just one non-Irish qualified player - Samoan Michael Ala'alatoa - on the current roster, potentially allowing IRFU performance director David Nucifora the room he needs to greenlight the addition.
While Ngatai was only capped once for the All Blacks, he was highly rated in New Zealand before he made the decision to up sticks to Europe in 2018.
Former Leinster hooker turned pundit Bernard Jackman sees his addition as a smart signing for the Irish province, writing: 'Great recruit for Leinster with former All Black Charlie Ngatai joining from Lyon in the Top 14... he is a proven top end player. Leinster produce lots of talent. It’s in show for the 4 provinces each weekend. I believe it’s a good thing for all 4 to be allowed add Quality where the coaches feel they need it. Vermeulen at Ulster, Synman at Munster etc'
The 6'2, 104kg centre made 51 appearances for the Chiefs in Super Rugby.
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Latest Comments
Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
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