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Toulon line up 136kg former Samoan Under 20 second row - reports
By Online Editors
Toulon are eyeing up new recruits after a sluggish start to the Top 14 season.
In the aftermath of their 37-10 defeat to Stade Francais eccentric owner Mourad Boudjellal said as many as five players could be signed.
One of the first through the door may be Brian Alainu’uese. French publication Le Figaro suggest that the New Zealand-born second row is already at the club to be assessed by coaches with a view to signing him.
Alainu’uese would certainly add considerable bulk to their pack, weighing in at 138kg and towering at 2.07 metres.
The 24-year-old played five times for Samoa's Under 20's, scoring one try. He is currently on the books at PRO14 side Glasgow Warriors, having joined the Scottish club in 2016 from Waikato. He also has Super Rugby experience, with two appearances for the Chiefs when they were coached by current Warriors head coach Dave Rennie.
He's made 22 appearances for the Warriors during his time at Scotstoun. He has had spells on the sidelines, undergoing knee surgery last December to correct an ongoing problem, returning in March. He is under contract with the Scottish club until May 2019, but it appears he will be allowed to end that deal early in order to join Toulon should the French side pursue their interest.
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Latest Comments
SBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
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