GLASGOW WARRIORS have added another overseas back-row to their playing roster with the signing of Samoan international TJ Ioane on a loan deal from London Irish. He has joined the club with immediate effect.
The 31-year-old has played 25 matches for Samoa and was a member of the Pacific Islanders’ squad for both the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups, playing in the 34-0 defeat to Scotland in Kobe in the latter tournament. He also played against Scotland in 2017, when Samoa lost 44-38 at Murrayfield.
This recruitment comes just one week after Tongan international flanker Fotu Lokotui joined the club as a free-agent.
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Ioane was born in Samoa and moved to New Zealand aged eight. He made his breakthrough playing for Otago in the 2009 ITM Cup, before stepping up to Super Rugby with the Highlanders in 2013. He initially arrived in England to play for Sale Sharks in 2015, and switched to London Irish in 2018.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to join Glasgow Warriors and I’m really looking forward to working with this good group of boys,” said Ioane. “Glasgow are an ambitious club, and everyone is very driven here.
“I’m excited to get the chance to play some footy for a club like Glasgow and I just want to help the team get the results I know we can achieve.”
Glasgow Warriors head coach Danny Wilson said Ioane will add real value to the squad.
“He is a physical ball carrier who brings a huge amount of experience from his time in the Premiership and on the international stage,” said Wilson. “He can play across the back-row and will be a real asset to us as we look to overcome the recent disruption to our back-row stock and the upcoming international windows.”
Matt Fagerson plans to play his way out of the Glasgow Warriors team
What’s the point of having Dodsons super 6 .
Again nobody deemed good enough to at least Be given a chance to step up
A rare space again given to an overseas “journeyman “
What next – name change to “Glasgow Islanders”?
Got rid of a club servant in Ashe for another back row. Disappointing
Why are Glasgow signing yet another non qualified Scottish player.
Where is the money coming from? is there no one good enough coming through?
Is there NO CONFIDENCE in the structure set up by the SRU in Super 6 ?
Where are we going as a rugby nation.