GLASGOW WARRIORS have signed 13-times capped Tongan international flanker Fotu Lokotui after a successful trial period at the club, with the 28-year-old available for selection ahead of this weekend’s trip to Connacht.
The departure of Jale Vakaloloma freed up the cash to sign Lokotui, who is the fifth new arrival ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, and was previously a free agent after leaving English side Doncaster Knights at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season.
Meanwhile, the club has announced that former Scotland Under-20 back-row Bruce Flockhart is taking an extended break from rugby.
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Lokotui made his international debut against Japan in 2017 and was part of Tonga’s 31-man squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Prior to linking up with the Warriors, the flanker had represented Counties Manakau w New Zealand’s ITM (now Mitre10) Cup. The Longoteme-born man scored six tries in 18 appearances for the Steelers, before heading north for an eye-catching 12-game stint with Doncaster in the English Championship.
Lokotui will become the third Tongan to represent Glasgow Warriors, following in the footsteps of Ofa Fainga’anuku and Siua Halanukonuka.
“I’m really happy to sign for Glasgow,” he said. “It’s a great club, and I’m proud to be a part of the squad ahead of the new season.
“Everyone has made me feel really welcome – it’s a great group of boys, and they’ve all made me feel right at home already. If I don’t understand something that’s been said, I know that all I need to do is ask them and they’ll make sure I know what I have to do.
“I can’t wait to prove myself to the fans, and give my best every time I run onto the field in a Glasgow jersey.”
Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Danny Wilson added: “Fotu has really impressed us so far. He’s strong over the ball and carries the ball hard into contact, and he’s someone I think the fans will really enjoy watching.
“He’s a very physical six or seven and with the current situation in the backrow we needed to add some depth.We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do on the pitch in a Warriors shirt.”
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Why not bring Connor Boyle or Rory Darge across from Edinburgh? Fine prospects not even getting on the bench there.
What’s the point of Super 6 if none of the back rowers them are deemed good enough to be given a chance at pro rugby .
Dodson’s Cuckoland
Assuming we have at least 18 back rowers in S6, and possibly 36 this seems to say “None of you guys are good enough to step up”
Also less than a week after MD say we need a bail out from the Scottish Governmment, we go and splash more cash.
The parallel universe of BTM keeps spinning.
Money no object! Fewer but stronger….. As One. Oh yeah!