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Wallaby Sam Talakai agrees URC switch after Rebels' demise

By Josh Raisey
Sam Talakai of the Rebels runs out onto the field during the round eight Super Rugby Pacific match between Melbourne Rebels and Highlanders at AAMI Park, on April 13, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)

United Rugby Championship winners Glasgow Warriors have signed former Melbourne Rebels tighthead prop Sam Talakai ahead of the upcoming season, subject to visa.

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The one-cap Wallaby, 32, has become the fourth prop signed by Franco Smith this summer, with Rory Sutherland, Fin Richardson and Patrick Schickerling also arriving at Scotstoun.

Talakai spent the first half of 2024 with the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby Pacific, but the franchise’s demise left him without a club. That brought to an end his second stint in Melbourne, six years after he first joined in 2018, where he played alongside future Warriors teammate Sione Tuipulotu.

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A three-year stint in Japan with Suntory Sungoliath was sandwiched in between his spells with the Rebels. His time in Japan finished with him being selected for Dave Rennie’s Australia squad, where he earned his solitary cap against Wales in November 2022 before rejoining the Rebels in 2023.

“I’m really looking forward to joining the squad,” Talakai said to glasgowwarriors.org.

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“I’ve heard nothing but good things about the club and the people, and the direction the club is heading played a big part.

“The rugby program is impressive, there’s a great squad assembled and my kids getting to experience a new culture – both as part of Glasgow Warriors and in the city of Glasgow – is the cherry on top.”

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“I spoke with Franco earlier in the year and he talked about the club’s vision and the direction we’re travelling as a group. It was an impressive catch-up and I’m excited to get stuck in.

“Since then, I’ve been in regular contact with Sione [Tuipulotu]. We played together in Australia and he spoke really highly of the club, the group and the city. Those conversations, and hearing the positive things everyone has to say about the club, made the decision quite easy for me in the end.

“On the field, I’m someone who just goes to work and executes my core role for the team. Off the field I’m pretty chilled. My family and I will just look to settle in and connect to the community, and we’re looking forward to meeting the Warrior Nation soon.”

Glasgow boss Smith added: “Sam is a proven performer who we believe can add to our squad this season.

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“To play 100 matches in Super Rugby shows the consistently high levels of performance he brings, and to have someone with that experience in our squad that our young, Scottish-qualified front-rowers can learn from can only benefit both the club and Scottish rugby in the long-term.

“Adding Sam also allows us to manage the workload of our senior international front-rowers, across what will be a long and physical season.

“We look forward to welcoming him to Scotstoun and to our squad in the coming weeks.”

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1 Comment
F
Forward pass 28 days ago

Great to see RAs "drop to 4 teams" strategy building such depth. Another lost to rugby in Aus.

S
SteveD 28 days ago

Basically, isn't it all part of their demise as a rugby union nation? It's been on the cards for a long time. Third in line after Aussie Rules and rugby league. Trouble is, them and the NZRU have been trying to convert union into league so they can compete with the other two sports, which hasn't done union any favours. Happily, the Boks have managed to escape the E-W route (apart from the so-called 'Championship' currently on the go) and now they're mainly N-S at least in club leagues like the URC and are IMHO having an incredibly positive effect on union, all round. Pity about the NZRU but there you (they) go.

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Bull Shark 58 minutes ago
Why Rassie Erasmus should cull some Boks veterans for 2027

I think cull is the wrong word.


I think Rassie and the senior players will be pretty open and honest with each other about their prospects for another World Cup campaign. And, ironically, I don’t think Rassie is thinking as far ahead as 2027 in terms of who is going to go.


There are likely going to be injuries too where players one would assume will be at 2027 won’t feature. Think Marx and Am and 2023.


I think the priority is really having as many players as possible in contention for a spot on the 33 by the time squad selection comes around.


I made this point a while ago, but having double World Cup winners in the setup over the next 3 years is going to be golden for the boks. It’s like having a coach in each position.


Razor was criticized for having too many coaches in his team. Rassie has more than 15 player coaches at his disposal.


I think Siya is being teed up to play the same role Duane did at the 2023 RWC. Invitation to the coaching box this coming weekend included.


I think many of the old guard are playing a role in the team that certainly does not guarantee them a 2027 place but doesn’t hurt their chances at being selected - but they will have to be the no.1 or no. 2 best in that position to be selected at that time. There won’t be any dead weight - whether old or young.


In my mind the strategy would be quite simple. Take everyone who will be over 32 by 2027 and pencil their names in right now in slot number three for their relative position. We know what they can do and they know what they need to do to be in contention for 2027.


Then ask yourself who do we have to take position no.1 and no. 2. Tried and tested or not. Find them and trial them over the next 3 years. Their job is to keep the old guys out. And the old guys job is to help them do just that.


That’s what Rassie has to do and has started well trying 48 players and 11 debutants in year one as the article mentioned (and winning).


I reckon there’ll be another 5-10 new players tried by the end of this year, particularly in November.


2024 ✅

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