adminCape Town – The Stormers have confirmed that experienced Samoan speedster Sailosi Tagicakibau has linked up with them ahead of their four-game Super Rugby tour of Australasia.The powerfully-built Tagicakibau has spent the last eight European seasons with English Premiership club London Irish and he touched down in Cape Town yesterday morning to join up with his new team-mates on a loan deal for the remainder of the 2014 Super Rugby season.
Standing 1,94m tall and tipping the scales at a hefty 100 kg, Tagicakibau has played 21 Tests for Samoa – scoring seven tries in the process. He has played over 150 games for London Irish, at both Premiership and Heineken Cup level, having also represented Counties Manukau, Taranaki and Chiefs in his native New Zealand and the Barbarians and Pacific Islanders at international level.
“We’ve been looking for an experienced and strongly-built international wing for some time and Sailosi Tagicakibau fits the bill perfectly,” coach Allister Coetzee told the Stormers’ official website.
“We’ve done our research on him, having tracked his progress for some time now. We have also built up a good understanding with London Irish, after also loaning Jebb Sinclair from the club in 2012, and Sailosi comes highly recommended by (London Irish) director of rugby Brian Smith. Sailosi will be able to take in Friday night’s clash against the Hurricanes at Newlands, whilst his experience of New Zealand and Australian conditions will be of great benefit to us on tour next month,” added Coetzee.
“I have no doubt that he will thrive in the Stormers environment – much like Jebb did in 2012 – and also, in the process, share his many experiences of top-level rugby with the younger, home-grown players in our squad.”
Tagicakibau, 31, has played at three World Cups for Samoa (in 2003, 2007 and 2011), facing South Africa at the 2003 tournament in Brisbane (Australia). The Stormers’ clash against the Hurricanes kicks off at 19.10 this evening.- Sport24.
Online Reporter