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Leicester Tigers have announced that Nemani Nadolo will join the club ahead of the 2020/21 season.
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The Fiji international will swap Top14 side Montepellier for Welford Road this summer, as reported by RugbyPass last Friday.
The 6’4, 137kg Nadolo is believed to have signed a two-year deal with Geordan Murphy’s side, where he will look to help improve the Leicester Tigers’ fortunes after two frustration seasons in the Premiership.
Any move to take the Six Nations away from terrestrial television and behind a paywall could have a knock-on effect with tournament sponsors, explains @chrisjonespress https://t.co/JcXirZl85c
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 2, 2020
Nadolo has spent the last four years at Montpellier, where he has registered a stunning return of 53 tries in just 68 games.
The outside-back has also notched up 222 points in 29 Test appearances for Fiji since his international debut in 2010.
The versatile Nadolo can play at winger or in the midfield, and his signature represents a major coup for Leicester.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things about the club,” Nadolo said.
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We will welcome Nemani Nadolo to the club ahead of the 2020/21 season.
?? https://t.co/K0LMyOAUF4 pic.twitter.com/Inwctaj0HM
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) March 2, 2020
“Tigers is everything I’m looking for in a club … family first and the vision they have moving forward is something I wanted to be a part of.
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“I can’t wait to roll my sleeves up and rip in. It’s a great opportunity for me and my family to come set up shop in your town. Hopefully I earn the respect of the fans by doing my talking on the field.”
Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said the addition of Nadolo was one that players, coaches and supporters could all “get excited” for.
“It’s certainly one to get excited about, no matter who you are,” said Murphy.
Reports in France claim another big name is headed for the exit at Allianz Park.https://t.co/Z3oUJ0lZzr
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 2, 2020
“He’s a star of the international game and a player that crowds all over the world have been able to enjoy see play.
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“Now, the Tigers faithful get that chance and the playing squad, as well as coaching staff, get the opportunity to work alongside and with Nemani from next season.”
Nadolo will be the latest in a long of Fijians to represent the club, following in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Seru Rabeni, Vereniki Goneva, Seremaia Bai and more recently Campese Ma’afu, as well as World Rugby Hall of Famer Waisale Serevi.
Murphy, who played with all but Ma’afu for Tigers, is confident that Nadolo can leave a legacy like his fellow Fijians at Welford Road.
A statement from Sale read, "The club and Chris have reached a mutual agreement regarding the termination of his Sale Sharks contract and he will leave the club immediately." pic.twitter.com/qByGwDbFqk
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 2, 2020
“We have been blessed with some incredible Fijians at Tigers and I was fortunate enough to have featured alongside some of the very, very best as a player,” added Murphy.
“Nemani certainly possesses the traits of a player that Tigers fans look for and if we didn’t believe he could come here and do for us what we know he’s capable of, we wouldn’t have signed him.
“I don’t think it will be long before we are hearing ‘Nadolo’ chanted from the Terrace at Welford Road.”
Some big news from the England camp.https://t.co/SjBa9QKhAM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 2, 2020
The 32-year-old’s signing comes on the back of recent announcement of new arrivals Zack Henry and Shalva Mamukashvili, as well as recommitments from international duo George Ford and Ellis Genge, as well as youngsters Tom Hardwick, George Worth and Sam Aspland-Robinson.
Prior to his move to Montpellier, Nadolo had stints with the Crusaders in New Zealand, Green Rockets in Japan, Exeter Chiefs, Bourgoin and the NSW Waratahs in Australia.
In a career spanning across two decades, Nadolo has registered more than 1,000 points in domestic and international rugby, including more than 150 professional tries.
Watch: Six Nations £300m paywall deal: ‘We would not rule anything out’.
Comments on RugbyPass
1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to comments