'X-Factor player' Nanai commits to Worcester until 2023 after difficult first season

Melani Nanai has committed his future to Worcester Warriors by signing a contract extension which will keep him at Sixways until at least 2023. The former Blues wing was a high-profile signing for Warriors last season but has been frustrated by injuries since arriving at the club, with his new deal a sign of the Warriors' faith in the player.

Nanai underwent surgery on a shoulder injury earlier this year, but has returned to full fitness while the English season has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He has only played eight times for the Warriors to date.

“I am delighted that Melani has decided to extend his stay with us until the end of the 2022/2023 season,” said Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons.

“Melani oozes talent and is an X-Factor player who established himself as one of the leading lights of Super Rugby.

“The past season has been difficult for him due not only to having to play back-to-back seasons, but also because of injury.

“He is now rehabbing well from his shoulder operation and should be good to go when we start playing again.

“With our new coaching staff in place and, particularly, Jockey [Matt Sherratt] taking the backs and attack, I am confident that we are going to see the best of Melani and that he is going to become a key player for the team.

“Melani is a great bloke and a real team man and I look forward to us continuing to work together.”

Nanai, who played for his native Samoa in the 2013 Junior World Championship in France, won Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup with Auckland in 2018 and said he is relishing the prospect of an extended stay with Warriors.

“It was an easy decision to make. I haven’t had as many opportunities as I would like because of the injury but I just want to prove myself here and show what I can do,” Nanai said.

“With the Coronavirus I have had a lot of time off and that’s give me time to heal my shoulder.

“The Premiership is a different style of rugby to back in New Zealand. There’s a lot of contact involved but it’s given me the opportunity to see what the competition is like here.

“It’s good to see the potential that we have in the squad here. A lot of the talented young boys have been signing contracts and there are a lot of good youngsters coming through.”