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Leicester confirm the signing of two of Dan McKellar's old Brumbies
Incoming Leicester boss Dan McKellar has confirmed the signing of two players he previously worked with at the Brumbies, Exeter’s Solomone Kata and Ulster’s Sam Carter. Tigers had earlier confirmed on Thursday the early contract release of Harry Potter, whose return to Australia will end his three-year association with the English club.
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However, that surprise news has now been followed by Leicester announcing two signings after new boss McKellar thumbed through his list of old contacts from his days at the Super Rugby Brumbies before he moved on to assist Dave Rennie’s Wallabies.
A statement read: “Leicester are pleased to confirm the signings of international duo Solomone Kata and Sam Carter. The 28-year-old Kata, who is capable of playing in the midfield or on the wing, will join Tigers from Exeter.
“Born in Tonga, Kata moved to New Zealand at 16 years of age to attend Sacred Heart College which boats rugby internationals Kieran Crowley, Sean Fitzpatrick, Xavier Rush and Taniela Tupou among their alumni. He represented Tonga at age-grade level before switching to rugby league to join the Auckland-based New Zealand Warriors, who compete in the NRL, in 2013.
“Kata played for the Warriors U20s side for two seasons and made his senior Test debut for Tonga in 2014 before making his NRL debut in 2015. In 2016, he represented New Zealand in international rugby league. During his time in rugby league, Kata made more than 100 appearances and scored more than 50 tries.
“He returned to rugby union in 2019 to join the Brumbies where he spent three years, and he made his Test rugby union debut in 2021. In 2022, Kata joined fellow Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika for one season before signing with Exeter ahead of the 2022/23 northern hemisphere season.
“Meanwhile, 33-year-old Carter, who plays at lock and in the back-row, will join Tigers from Ulster. Carter was born in Tamworth, Australia, and represented Sydney University before signing his first professional rugby contract with the Brumbies in 2010.
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“He made his Super Rugby debut in 2011 and went on to make more than 120 appearances for the Canberra-based side during the next nine seasons, including the last two as captain. In 2014, Carter made his Test debut for the Wallabies and joined a unique group of father and sons to have represented the Australian national rugby union side.
“He moved to Ulster ahead of the 2019/20 northern hemisphere season and has since made 58 appearances for the Irish club including captaining the Belfast-based side. Carter and Kata join Josh Bassett, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Kyle Hatherell, Jamie Shillcock and Finn Theobald-Thomas as confirmed signings for Dan McKellar’s Leicester Tigers squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.”
Incoming head coach McKellar said: “I’m very excited to have Solomone joining Leicester from next season. What you see is what you get with Solomone; he is a physical, tough player, who also possesses a good skill set and offers us a genuine point of difference, in attack and defence, in the midfield.
“Importantly, Sol is a good man, who cares deeply about his teammates and I know will be a positive addition to our squad from next season.
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“Sam is a great addition to our forward pack from next season and a player who has a wealth of experience in the game in both the southern and northern hemisphere, as well as having played Test rugby. He is an outstanding line out caller, who enjoys the hard work, and his signing provides us with strong depth in the second row.
“In addition to what Sam gives us on the field, his leadership and character as a person are also huge positives to be bringing into our group, which I am pleased about.”
Kata added: “As an island boy growing up in Tonga, the only team I ever knew of in England was Leicester Tigers after watching Alesana Tuilagi represent the club. I knew back then just how big a club Leicester was and definitely dreamt of wanting to join a team that big. I mean, who wouldn’t want to join a club like Tigers?
“With Dan joining, it is very exciting to work with him again. I started my rugby career under him at the Brumbies and can’t wait to be coached by him again. I love the Premiership and the physicality of this competition. It is the kind of games I want to be involved in; taking on your opposition, man to man, and the way the crowds love that physicality.
“Mattioli Woods Welford Road is an unbelievable stadium with an unreal crowd, which was so loud and had so much energy in it. I can’t wait to have that ruthless support on my side.”
Carter said: “Leicester is a big club, one of the biggest in the game with such a proud history. It’s very exciting to be joining a club of this magnitude. I made the move to Ulster to test myself in the big games and arena that European rugby provides and know that it will be just as big and exciting a challenge to be able to do that with Leicester from next season.”
“I’m excited to link back up with Dan after a few years together in the Brumbies and after speaking with him, looking forward to being a part of what he is looking to build at the club.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to comments