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2 of Freddie Tuilagi's sons have signed up to face Saracens in next season's Championship
Ever since Saracens were automatically relegated to the Championship for the 2020/21 season, the consensus has been that their promotion back to the Premiership is a foregone conclusion. However, with Ealing Trailfinders leading the way with an impressive recruitment drive, other clubs are now also looking to make life uncomfortable for the 2019 Gallagher Premiership champions.
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London Scottish are the latest to announce some eye-catching recruits, new director of rugby Matt Williams revealing that he has signed Fred and Brian Tuilagi, sons of Freddie Tuilagi, the ex-Leicester and Samoa player, and nephews of current England international Manu.
Aged 26, Brian Tuilagi can play anywhere in the pack back five and he has joined London Scottish from Italian Top 12 team Mogliano following a circuitous career that has involved two seasons at Dax, stints in the Leicester and Newcastle academies and an Anglo-Welsh Cup appearance for Saracens against Leicester in February 2017.
Younger brother Fred, 23, also joins Scottish from the Italian Top 12, the No8 having been at Colorno after coming through the Leicester system and debuting for Tigers in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in November 2016 at Bath.
“It’s a blessing that our family have had the success that they have had,” said Brian on the London Scottish website after the signings were confirmed. “We’re very proud of our family and what they have achieved over the years. Hopefully, we can soon replicate some of what they have accomplished.
??Check out our new duo signing in action!
First up for you we have @fredtuilagi ? pic.twitter.com/hYUrjyYMIe
— London Scottish Rugby (@LSFCOfficial) June 17, 2020
“I’m looking forward to getting back into the English system and showcasing what I have learnt in the last three years in France and Italy… it’s already a good start when you don’t have to learn a new language. Signing together with Fred for this season is special. It’s a blessing to play the game you love, but to have the opportunity to do it with your brother is something I’m very grateful for.”
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Fred added: “We’re both competitive, but we will both be pushing each other to become better players. It’s always been a dream to play on the same side and we are over the moon for the opportunity.”
Scottish boss Williams said: “I’m beyond excited to work with Fred and Brian. They play slightly differently in style, but will massively complement each other and still carry the physicality you’d expect from a Tuilagi in defence and with ball in hand.
“With the added spice of the boys finally getting to play in the same team I can’t wait to see them drive each other on to produce excellence. They will bring a real physical threat to our pack.”
'When I took over I had to Google where these clubs were'
From the Premiership to level nine status in the Herts/Middlesex 1 League, it's been a long old drop for @LondonWelshRFC . @CaiGriffiths talks to @heagneyl on how a humbled club at rebuilding ???https://t.co/tfYnaumj1y
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 17, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments