BREAKING: One of Glasgow Warriors most explosive foreign imports is returning to Scotstoun
Glasgow Warriors have announced that Fiji international scrum-half Niko Matawalu has rejoined the club.
The 28-year-old has signed a one-year contract at Scotstoun, with the option for a second year, subject to visa and medical.
Matawalu has returned to Glasgow following two years in the Aviva Premiership with Bath and Exeter Chiefs, having last played for the Warriors in the club’s 31-13 triumph over Munster in the 2014/15 Guinness PRO12 Final.
After signing for Glasgow in the summer of 2012, Matawalu established himself as a firm favourite amongst the supporters during his first spell at the club, with his pace and flair producing several memorable moments in both domestic and European action.
He is able to boast an impressive strike-rate in Warriors colours, crossing the whitewash 24 times in his 74 appearances for the club.
Matawalu was a key figure in the Warriors title-winning campaign in the 2014/15 season, scoring six tries in his sixteen appearances and providing valuable options due to his versatility, being able to play on the wing or at scrum-half.
His form in a Warriors shirt saw him named the club’s McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season twice in three years, with his electric running and quick thinking winning him many admirers amongst the Scotstoun faithful.
The scrum-half’s performances on the international stage have brought him significant praise, having been vital to Fiji’s 2015 Pacific Nations Cup success.
Capped 32 times for his country, Matawalu caught the eye at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, only being denied a spectacular try against England in the opening game of the tournament by the TMO.
The man from Suva can also lay claim to an impressive record in sevens, being named player of the tournament in Fiji’s Hong Kong Sevens win in 2012 as well as helping Glasgow to Melrose Sevens success in 2014 and 2015.
Speaking to glasgowwarriors.org, Matawalu couldn’t hide his delight at the move.
“It means so much to me,” said Matawalu.
“Glasgow Warriors was my first professional club and first club outside of Fiji, and it’s where I met a lot of good people.
“Dave Rennie is a very good person. He’s very down-to-earth and he had a good chat with me before I decided to come back. He’s a good man.
“I always play like it’s my last game and I’m really looking forward to playing in front of the fans again.
“I’m very excited to be back in Glasgow.”
Glasgow Warriors Head Coach, Dave Rennie, added: “I’ve seen Niko play a lot of test footy for Fiji and for Glasgow Warriors, when they won the title too. He’s a bit of a freak on the field, he’s a game breaker.
“I know he was incredibly popular here with the fans and when I met with him he made it very clear that he was very passionate about Glasgow and wanted to come back.
“We’ve got three really good nines already, Henry (Pyrgos) and Ali (Price) are Scotland internationals and George (Horne) has really impressed us in pre-season.
“Niko is going to have to work really hard, but the fact that he can play on the wing and at full-back is a bonus and his utility value will help us during the Autumn Tests and Six Nations periods.
“We want to harness his individual brilliance and not coach it out of him, he’ll be dynamic on our artificial pitch.
“He’s been out of footy for a fair amount of time, so the next month will be about getting his body right so that once he gets his opportunity he’s ready to fire.”
Comments on RugbyPass
As article says re Japanese Final. Todd Blackadder up against his old mentor/ coach at Canterbury and the Crusaders , Robbie Deans. Both legends in this part of the world. Richie Mo’unga, ( another legend), playing brilliantly for Toddy’s team.Great to hear.
1 Go to commentsNo doubt Razor will want to kick the 2024 campaign off with a decisive selection of the top match fit players to insure his selection as the appointed coach has maximum impact. We the supporters and critics will settle for nothing less because historically it is what we have become ingrained and accustomed to. With that in mind and the distinct fall from grace of his beloved crusaders we will expect him to stamp his mark in the same way he left his old post.
9 Go to commentsI would've expected a better turn around in response to the changes within the team and its management. Lacking in my opinion is the skill sets that once was and now seemingly vacant within the squads regular front runners. Furthermore there seems to be no set game plan, the accuracy that once was is no more, the quality off the bench were poor matchups and frankly I feel a lot has to do with the coaching. Never thought i’d be critising the sadas to this degree.
5 Go to commentsAverage AB captain by recent standards. Speaks to the wider issue
9 Go to commentsWholesome lad, but no longer test level. At all
9 Go to commentsThis game was always going to be close, Canada have such a dominant pack and the Black Ferns have come unstuck in that area against teams like France and England in the past.
2 Go to commentsA distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
2 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
5 Go to commentsWho will Joe select for the back three with so many in form candidates? Just hope he doesn’t get shafted like Dave Rennie and to a lesser extent Deans.
8 Go to commentsAlways reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
5 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
8 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to comments