Monday Afternoon Round Up

Glasgow sign Waikato lock

New Zealand-born lock Brian Alainu'uese has joined Glasgow Warriors from Waikato for the rest of the PRO12 season.

The deal is subject to a visa and medical, but the 22-year-old arrived in Glasgow on Saturday and trained for the first time with his new team-mates today (Monday).

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said: "Brian has a real physical presence and has played well for Waikato in the Mitre Cup this season. 

"He has the ability to play an offloading game and will help our set-piece play. With Greg Peterson, Scott Cummings and Tjiuee Uanivi currently injured, we’re delighted to secure the services of such a quality second-row, and we're looking forward to integrating him into our squad."

Alainu’uese played six times and scored three tries in his first season for Waikato. His performances earned him a call-up to the Samoan under-20s due to his island heritage, where he played five times and scored one try.

Maro Itoje ruled out for 6 weeks

Maro Itoje, the Saracens and England lock, will require surgery after fracturing his right hand in Saracens’ 44-26 win over Scarlets on Saturday and has been ruled out of action for six weeks.

Mark McCall, Saracens Director of Rugby, said: “For any team to lose a player of the ability of Maro is a blow and he will be missed through the autumn for both Saracens and England.

“What’s now important for Maro is his recovery and we look forward to his return later this season.”

Lions sign Sithole

The Golden Lions have announced the signing of Western Province prop Sithembiso Sithole for the 2017 season.

The 23-year-old spent most of 2016 on loan with the Southern Kings but will now head to Johannesburg to join the Lions.

Newcastle Falcons prop Taione Vea forced to retire

Newcastle Falcons prop Taione Vea has been forced to retire from rugby as a result of the spinal injury he suffered in the Premiership opener against Sale Sharks on September 2.

“I took a bad knock in the game against Sale and spent a few nights in hospital, and when I had my scan results unfortunately things didn’t come back too well," said Vea.

“...I was left paralysed for five or six minutes on the field, where I couldn’t feel my whole body. That is enough for anybody in a lifetime, and the risk of that happening again if I was to return to playing is quite high. It is obviously not the way I wanted to go."

The 27-year-old made 22 competitive appearances for the club after joining from London Welsh in the summer of 2015, and has been capped six times by Tonga.

Mike Ford succeeds Diego Dominguez for Toulon

Mike Ford has made a return to top-flight coaching, with the former England defence coach appointed first-team coach of French Top 14 club Toulon, just four months after his dismissal by Bath.

Ford will be responsible for attack, defence and overall game plan, after impressing club owner Mourad Boudjellal during a meeting last week.

He is due to start work today (Monday) and it is understood that his contract will run to the end of the season with the option of two more years.

Joe Schmidt commits to Ireland for RWC19

The Irish Rugby Football Union has today confirmed that Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt will continue on his current contract up to the end of the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.
 
Appointed ahead of the 2013 Guinness Series, Schmidt has been involved in a period of sustained success and achievement with the national team.

Back-to-back RBS 6 Nations Championships were secured in 2014 and 2015, a first Test Series win in the southern hemisphere was recorded in Argentina in 2014 and a first ever Test victory on South African soil was achieved in Cape Town at the end of the 2015/16 season.

David Nucifora, IRFU Performance Director, commented: "Joe is one of the leading coaches in world rugby and it is fantastic for Irish rugby that he has committed until the end of the World Cup cycle.  We have a talented group of coaches and Joe has been central to attracting coaching talent and driving success with the national team.”

Joe Schmidt, Ireland Head Coach, added: "I'd like to thank the IRFU for their patience and confidence as the decision to continue took somewhat longer than I'd anticipated.

"The strength of the rugby community has been incredibly visible over the past week and the enthusiasm of management and players to improve and compete is complemented by a really positive camaraderie.

"Looking forward there are positive signs with the U20s finalists at the Junior World Championships this year, the provinces topping three of the five European Champions Cup pools as well as Ulster and Leinster sharing the lead of the PRO12 at present."
 
Since taking over the head coach position in November 2013, Schmidt has capped 71 players including 26 new caps.