Wednesday Round-Up

Blow for Tigers: Just days out from the opening round of their European campaign, Leicester Tigers have been dealt a cruel blo with news emerging that prop forward Logovi’i Mulipola will be sidelined for the near future with an achilles injury. Having originally picked up the injury last season, the pain had receded enough for the giant Samoan to begin this campaign with no worries surrounding the troublesome knock. However, Mulipola’s Achilles has flared up once more and having already had previous trouble with it, Richard Cockerill and co opted to send the prop for surgery immediately. Having undergone the knife on Monday evening, Mulipola is expected to sit out the coming six to eight weeks as he joins a long list o flayers unavailable to head coach Cockerill, a list which includes a pair of British and Irish Lions in the shape of Dan Cole and Tom Youngs. Add to this the impending absence of the likes of Ayerza, Rizzo and Ghiraldini during the November International series, and the Tigers will be stretched to capacity in the coming months.

Chiefs sign duo: Super Rugby outfit the Chiefs are in the final stages of completing their roster for next season’s campaign, with two new forward signings the latest recruits to be enlisted. Prop Siate Tokolahi joins from ITM Cup outfit Canterbury for the next two season, while second row forward Michael Allardice joins from Hawke’s Bay on a year long deal. Capable of playing on both sides of the scrum, Tongan born Tokohali is just 22 and has shown much promise when on domestic duty with Canterbury, having come through the Academy System in Christchurch. Allardice, also aged 22, spent six weeks training with the Chiefs earlier this season, and having already experienced the coaching setup and atmosphere around the club, said the decision to join the Super Rugby champions of a year ago, was one of the easiest in his career to date. The Chiefs’ final roster is set to be completed in the coming weeks.

Ryan Sheady