Cornish Pirates sign USA Eagles international Andrew Suniula for next season – Rugby news
Cornwall based English Rugby Union side, Cornish Pirates, have acquired the services of the USA Eagles international utility back Andrew Suniula for next season. Officials at the club have confirmed the signing of the international back on their official
website today.
Cornish Pirates participate in the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Championships. Pirates are this year’s RFU Championships runners-up as the Worcester Warriors defeated the Pirates in the Finals to secure a premiership spot.
American Samoan Suniula started playing rugby in the rugby powerhouse New Zealand. His natural talent and love for the game impressed then Auckland Blues coach Graham Henry. Henry was principal of the school that Suniula was attending but is now the All
Blacks head coach.
Suniula is a versatile player and has the abilities to play at winger, centre and second row forward positions. Suniula made his professional rugby career in the Australasia. He has represented Taranaki, Auckland Lions, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Chicago
Griffins rugby clubs.
Suniula joined the Taranaki based Taranaki Rugby Football Union side in 2005/06. Later during the 2006/07 season, he switched to the National Rugby League side Auckland Lions. He was part of the Lions outfit, which lifted the 2007 Bartercard Cup Finals cup
in which Suniula scored a try in the final match.
Suniula exceptional performance in the season for Lions impressed Noel Cleal, a former Manly-Sea Eagles coach. Cleal selected him to play for the Sea Eagles for the 2008/09 season. In 2010, he joined the Illinois based American rugby union outfit, Chicago
Griffins.
Cornish Pirates Chief Executive Officer, Rod Coward, has welcomed the signing of the international utility back and second rower. He expressed hopes that his inclusion will strengthen the side and enhance the club’s quality of play. His world experience
will definitely benefit the Pirates to improve their overall performance.
Suniula will probably play in the 2011 Rugby World Cup for the USA Eagles side come Septmeber in New Zealand.
The 29-year-old Suniula made his international debut for the United States national rugby union team against Japan at Nagoya on November 16, 2008. He has made six appearances for USA Eagles and the USA Sevens side. He has also represented the USA Eagles
during the eighth edition of the Churchill Cup in 2010.
Additionally, Coward has also confirmed the closing of the signings at the club for the next season. In addition to Suniula, Pirates have signed contracts with Ceiron Thomas, Darren Daniel, Ryan Westren, David Doherty, Ben Maidment, Matt Smith, Tom Cooper
and Tom Kessell to strengthen their squad for next season’s campaign.
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