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Wed 20 May 2015 | 01:15
Fijian powerhouse winger Taqele Naiyaravoro signed by Glasgow Warriors

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Glasgow Warriors have signaled their intent to once again challenge for next season's PRO12 title by signing big Fijian flyer Taqele Naiyaravoro. The 23-year-old has impressed of late, so here's a look at one of his best tries, plus other recent highlights.

The Waratah's winger is currently the talk of Australia at the moment after scoring a Jonah Lomu-esque try against the Western Force recently, prompting him to be thrown into the Wallaby's wingers debate.

There was some concern in Scotland that Glasgow would lose try-scoring potential after they allowed Niko Matawalu, Sean Maitland and D.T.H van der Merwe to leave next season, but Naiyaravoro's signing seems to have blunted those thoughts.

The 6ft 5in, 19-stone (123kg) behemoth, who has been a prolific try scorer in both codes of rugby, has signed a three-year deal with the club, meaning he could be eligible for Scotland on residency rules after that period.

"Glasgow have been talking to me for a while and opened the door for me, so I'm happy to have signed a long-term contract with the club," said the powerfully built winger. 

"I'm looking forward to moving to Glasgow with my family to continue my development. They are a strong team and it's really exciting to get the opportunity to move over there and play my rugby in Scotland next season.

"It will be a new challenge for me to play in the Guinness PRO12 and compete against the best sides in Europe in the Champions Cup," he added.

Glasgow Warriors have put together a compilation video of Naiyaravoro's latest exploits with the Waratahs, and below you can see that sensational try he scored against the Force. On page two there is also a big tackle he made on 115kg winger, Frank Halai.

Watch the Glasgow Warriors compilation video above, featuring Naiyaravoro's best bits

 

Big hit on Frank Halai, who himself is quite a unit

Posted By: c_gillon

9 Comments

  • stroudos
    9:21 PM 23/05/2015

    Love the commentary on the replay!

    Don't hit him that high!!!
    Don't hit him that low!!
    Don't bother trying to hit him at all, he's unstoppable!

  • drg
    1:54 AM 22/05/2015

    You're right there browner, there is certainly no escaping 'my team beating your team' mentality and as you've said, it's a sad fact (in my opinion) that rugby is now more a business than a sport. Of course to the players it still has a huge sport aspect, but to 'the suits' and 'the man', if they can make money off it, they will.

    There is indeed two sides to every coin, this promotes the game and gives us the 10 million viewing angles we're now accustomed too etc.

    I suppose maybe I'm looking at this a bit short term. If Naiyaravoro makes it big in the NH, young fijians might all band together to become the next star (I'm aware there have been many star fijians in the past) and a few generations later we may see them flock back to Fiji (and other PI) to take up coaching roles and in turn promote their own nations.

    I suppose the only thing I'd say against your comment above is that I might feel a little embarrassed if I were to turn around and say "my X beat your Y".. only for you to reply with "yes but my team were full of home grown players, your team is full of 'foreigners'" or something like that. If everyone does it, then thats fine.. haha..

  • browner
    10:30 AM 21/05/2015

    The inescapable fact is Pro rugby encourages financial migration to the best paying locations. (Paying = wage/prospects/endorsements/injury resting longevity)

    NZ were the first to attract PI players as their 'shamatuer' rugby structures, because they were better organised & ahead of the game and leading the drive towards 'official' professionalism.

    Everyone else has sought to catch up since. The small nations will vote for anything that increases their chance to compete with the powerhouses, even if that means having 'pro tourists' represent them.

    If Roman Abramovich ( Chelsea FC owner) decided to buy into Georgian Rugby, then it is certain that you'd see an influx of worldwide Talented players into his well funded Squads .

    International rugby is certainly losing national identity credibility, (shrugs with resignation) but notwithstanding that, I still want the 'Rose' to beat 'Wallaby' (substitute any nations) when ever the two badges lock horns, regardless of how many PI / SH descendants are in which side, the same mindset as I do for my (unrepresentative collection of mercenaries) local pro football club !






  • drg
    11:57 PM 20/05/2015

    Ditto Davies. It's an awkward topic, because as you say, speaking about it sort of makes it come across as "we don't want your kind"... it's simply not the case. I just sort of prefer the idea of teams that are really '*insert nation here* to the core' ... whether that be someone who has clearly gone to another nation to live, work and retire etc then fair enough.. but I don't like the idea of people doing things like 'international seasons'..

  • notawelshdavies
    9:37 PM 20/05/2015

    Clarification: please don't take that as a Daily Mail reader criticism of Johnny Foreigner, I just feel like being Welsh/Irish/French etc. takes more than just living there for 3 years - I'd love to see that rule be extended to 7 years

  • notawelshdavies
    9:35 PM 20/05/2015

    I agree it's a problem, but those pacific nations just don't have the funds or the crowds or the regular competitive internationals...

    I thought that having the Pacific Islanders rugby team as a lions-style collection of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa would make them a force, but politics seemed to get in the way. It's a shame really, as it would be really good for the game to have another top-tier nation, and stop these players having to come and play in England etc

  • finedisregard
    9:01 PM 20/05/2015

    He's bad as hell.

    It seems like there are a lot of Fijians that don't relish playing for their home country. It's a shame.

  • drg
    5:42 PM 20/05/2015

    *Just to add:

    It's also not like he's a second tier player, or a b team player that would never make their first team, so he's seeking opportunities elsewhere. Sort of seems like Fiji could use the guy as well...

  • drg
    5:41 PM 20/05/2015

    What a monster.

    Obviously all decisions are in the hands of himself and others, but what do people feel about the fact he could play for Scotland?

    To me it seems a little bit, wrong(?)...

    I don't know, I sort of think that with any team... I suppose fans of teams might watch a team thinking "it could be me".. but this guy is Fijian, and not just ancestrally, so it's sort of back to that little 'Toulon mercenary' argument again...

    Credit to the guy though!

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