Scarlets announce signing of New Zealand Maori’s scrum half Ruki Tipuna to one-year deal – Rugby
Llanelli based Welsh professional Rugby Union club, Scarlets, has announced the signing of New Zealand Rugby Union player, Ruki Tipuna, to strengthen their squad for next season’s campaign. Officials at the club have confirmed of the talented scrum half
Tipuna, in a statement released on their website on Friday, August 26.
Tipuna has inked a one-year contract with the Scarlets with the possibility of extending the contract further by a year if it is mutually agreed.
The signing of Tipuna has addressed the Scarlets’ scrumhalf woes for now. Before the start of the 2011/12 domestic and European season, Scarlets are already without the services of three of their first choice scrumhalves. This includes Gareth Davies, Aled
Davies and Tavis Knoyle.
Knoyle is on national duty and is ready to participate in the upcoming 2011 Rugby World Cup tournament. While the duo of Gareth Davies and Aled Davies is suffering from groin and knee injuries respectively.
Scarlets head coach, Nigel Davies, has expressed his delight on securing the services of the New Zealand Maori’s talented scrum half Tipuna. He termed the player’s addition as very timely and important. He has expressed his hope, that the younger players
will benefit a lot from Tipuna’s experience. He has also hinted that the club will recruit a few more young players in the coming few days.
Davies has praised the skills, abilities and the aptitude of Tipuna. He has particularly termed Tipuna’s playing style as suitable for the Scarlets. He has spoken highly of Tipuna’s aggressive ball handling, carrying and goal kicking skills.
Davies further added, “Ruki is a very strong player in his own right, and he fires up on the field and is quite vocal and opinionated which is what we need with a young back line.”
The 28-year-old Tipuna plays his rugby for New Zealand’s provincial sides. So far in his career he has represented the Bay of Plenty and Wellington teams in the ITM cup competition. Commenting on his decision to move to the Northern Hemisphere Tipuna confirmed
that he wanted to get a taste of playing and competing with the Italian, French and Irish players. He also has expressed his hope during his time at the Scarlets he will be able to play against his former team-mates.
Tipuna has expressed his delight on signing the professional deal with the Scarlets. He added, “You know what rugby means to the Scarlets and its supporters from the outside and now seeing the Scarlets stadium and set-up here, you can really understand that
there's a really strong rugby community here - similar to back home.”
Tags: