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Fans call for more Nakarawa-like signings to stem the tide at faltering Glasgow
Leone Nakarawa’s return to Glasgow Warriors is hopefully the beginning of a number of new signings for many supporters of the club.
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The Fijian lock recently rejoined his former side until the end of the season, after he was sacked by Racing 92 for failing to return to training after the Rugby World Cup. The Warriors leapt at the chance of signing the 31-year-old, and he returns to Scotstoun after leaving in 2016.
Nakarawa is one of the leading locks in world rugby, and many Glasgow fans have fond memories of his time in Scotland. Having been named the European player of the year in 2018, he is famed for his ball-carrying and offloading ability. In fact, OptaJonny recently revealed that he made the most offloads in the Pro14 last decade, alongside Nick Williams, despite only playing for only three years in the league.
177 – No player made more offloads in the @PRO14Official in the last decade than Leone Nakarawa, despite the Fijian playing for @GlasgowWarriors for just three seasons (177, level with @nick8williams). Return. pic.twitter.com/oZANVJa2GP
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) January 2, 2020
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While the recruitment of the Olympic gold-winning sevens player is a boost, fans hope that his deal can be secured beyond the end of the season. The trouble is, there will undoubtedly be many sides across Europe that would want to sign the Fijian, and could potentially attract him with greater financial power.
Let’s get him nailed down longer term as well! Especially if we’re losing Jonny Gray!
— Doug L (@dougl84) January 2, 2020
Yessssss finally let's try and get him signed up longer ? ?
— Glasgow Warriors 2020 (@gfitzpatrick124) January 2, 2020
If Glasgow want to show ambition and appease disgruntled fans they need to make this long-term. Nakarawa's messy departure from Racing won't have raised his value to other clubs. https://t.co/1bGXc8Mu5Y
— Alasdair Reid (@AlasdairReid3) January 2, 2020
With Nakarawa’s second row partner Jonny Gray rumoured to be leaving the Warriors at the end of the season for the Exeter Chiefs, it is paramount that Glasgow do not see a large-scale exodus at the end of the season. Alongside Gray, centre Nick Grigg could also be heading elsewhere, as well as head coach Dave Rennie, who is set to join the Wallabies.
It is hoped, therefore, that Nakarawa’s signing is a statement of intent for a side that have been one of the forces in the PRO14 in recent years.
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Brilliant! We need him to turn up hopefully and we need some more signings!
— Miss Sullivan (@FiSulli) January 2, 2020
Being greedy here but can we get some other quality signings please. Thanks in advance
— Neil Macdougall ?????????????? (@DougallChops) January 2, 2020
Pleased to hear this news, but we still need to see evidence of a clear recruitment plan, beyond this season. Too many light areas of the squad which are cruelly exposed at certain times of the season. https://t.co/RIIyrjpjyh
— Finlay Morrison (@FinMorrison) January 2, 2020
In the short-term, there is belief that the lock’s arrival will signal a change in fortunes this season at Scotstoun, as the Warriors’ hopes of making the Champions Cup quarter-finals are slim. Despite making the final of the PRO14 last season, only four teams have lost more games this season than Glasgow, but Nakarawa has the ability to turn things around.
WATCH: Glasgow’s head coach, Dave Rennie, who has overseen two successive finals appearances in the PRO14, is in his final season with the club.
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA 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.
25 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments