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The Ospreys have added to their front row options for next season, signing Moldovan international tight head Gheorghe Gajion.
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At 1.9m tall and weighing in at 133kg, the 25-year old is a physically imposing, powerful presence, both at the setpiece and around the field, and he will link up with his new team-mates at Llandarcy Academy of Sport for pre-season after impressing during a trial period with the Region in April.
Capped 13 times by Moldova, Gajion has played for Russian Premier League side Bulava Taganrog, Italian club Rovigo where he gained European Challenge Cup experience and, latterly, in France with Trelissac.
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Following in the footsteps of his compatriot Dmitri Arhip, who is heading to France next season after almost six years with the Ospreys, he is the second tight head added to the squad for 2018/19, along with Tom Botha who joins from Cheetahs where he has developed a reputation as one of the strongest scrummagers in the Guinness PRO14.
Speaking about his move to the Ospreys, Gajion said: “It’s a huge honour for me to sign for the Ospreys, who are a very big club both in European and world rugby. I’ve worked hard to get to this point in my career and I hope I can make my country, my family and the Ospreys supporters proud. With my fellow countryman and friend Dmitri leaving I know I have big shoes to fill but I will give it 100 per cent.”
Gajion is the sixth new signing for next season so far, with Wales stars Aled Davies, George North and Scott Williams already confirmed along with Namibian international, Lesley Klim, in addition to the Moldovan and Botha.
Dan Griffiths, Rugby General Manager at the Ospreys, confirmed the signing, saying:
“Gheorghe spent time in our environment last month and made a really positive impression on the coaches and players, so we are delighted to be able to add him to the squad.
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“He’s a big man. Physically he is a real specimen, with dynamism and exceptional strength. He is someone who the coaches believe has the raw ingredients to make a real impact, and I know Allen Clarke is excited about working with him. “
“We’ve shown with Dmitri with the support and guidance provided by our environment what can be achieved, having arrived here with raw potential, and developing into a top tight head. I know that Gheorghe is looking forward to following in his footsteps as the second Moldovan to represent the Ospreys.”
Along with Botha, Gajion will compete with Ma’afu Fia and young Welsh tight heads Alex Jeffries and Mitchell Walsh next season.
In addition to the six new signings, the Ospreys have also secured the services of 11 of the current squad since the start of this year including captain Alun Wyn Jones and five other Welsh internationals, Rhodri Jones, James King, Owen Watkin, Adam Beard and Sam Cross.
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Olly Cracknell, Ma’afu Fia, Sam Parry and highly rated youngsters Will Jones and Reuben Morgan-Williams are the others to have signed new deals, while 11 local teenagers have all been secured on development contracts with three of them, Dewi Cross, Dewi Lake and Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, having already featured for the senior Ospreys team this season.
Comments on RugbyPass
To 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.
30 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.
2 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
30 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 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
30 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.
30 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. 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.
30 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.
30 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.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
30 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments