Scotland Rugby News [small_title title=”BREAKING NEWS”]
Glasgow Warriors have today unveiled their replacement for departing winger Taqele Naiyaravoro in the form of Italian fastman Leonardo Sarto. He joins the club on a two year contract, subject to medical, and brings with him an impressive try scoring record having notched up 6 so far for his native Italy.
Italy’s wing Leonardo Sarto scores the first try during a Pool D…
Italy’s wing Leonardo Sarto scores the first try during a Pool D match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between Italy and Romania at Sandy Park in Exeter, soutwest England, on October 11, 2015. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images
Sarto scoring against Romania at the Rugby World Cup
The 24 year old from Verona currently plays for Zebre in the Pro12 and has been a regular for Italy since his try scoring debut against Scotland in 2013.
[blockquote author=”Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend” pull=”normal”]” “Leonardo has been one of the best wingers in the GUINNESS PRO12 over the past few seasons and has an ability to break tackles”[/blockquote]
He has speed to burn as he showed against Wales last year
When asked about joining the Warriors he said: “I’ve always known Glasgow is a great club and I know Simone Favaro is enjoying it there. I hear the fans love him and I hope I will have a similarly good relationship with them when I move over”.
With Taqele Naiyaravoro returning to Australia at the end of the season, and with last season’s losses of Sean Maitland and to London Irish and fan favourite DTH van Der Merwe to the Scarlets, this signing is much needed if the Warriors want to remain competitive in the Pro12 and European competitions.
Taqele Naiyaravoro of Glasgow Warriors is tackled by Wenceslas Lauret…
Taqele Naiyaravoro of Glasgow Warriors is tackled by Wenceslas Lauret and Remi Tales of Racing 92 during the European Rugby Champions Cup pool 3 match between Glasgow Warriors and Racing 92 at Rugby… Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images
He has some gigantic boots to fill
As it stands he will be battling it out for one of the two wing spots with Tommy Seymour, Sean Maitland, Lee Jones, Junior Bulumakau and Rory Hughes.
[blockquote author=”Leonardo Sarto” ]”I wanted to move to the UK as I know the standard of rugby is high and I want to improve my game. Joining a club like Glasgow will help me do that.”[/blockquote]
What do you think? Is this a good signing for Glasgow? Let us know in the comments below.
Credit: Glasgow Warriors and 6 Nations Rugby
Experience is required, whilst the youngsters are being developed…..
So how do they get developed???
Just bring back DTH. He should never have been encouraged to go. ZEBRE? For goodness sake.
He was not encourage to go they were a bit complacent about him staying from what I have read. Also Townsend has form in signing wingers not playing to their potential whom turn out very well. DTH and Seymour for example.
Yes but the one who is leaving has never fulfilled his expectations.
?
Sorry worked it out. Must be slow.
Why? Another foreign player over paid and over here, how on earth do we develop young players without giving them game time? Not surprised by this, but very disappointed in the lack of forward thinking and planning
It’s pretty obvious isn’t it? Shame the rest of the misty-eyed Glasgow fans can’t see this. They will be the same people wondering why there are no decent Scottish wingers in five years time.
In what way is this developing young Scottish talent????
Excellent player, great signing.
I think that the people criticising the signing of an overseas player need to have a reality check.
The current Scottish U20 and U18 squads have a large number of guys who have chosen to continue their rugby development in England in their academy structure such as Hastings, Nairn, Eastgate, Craig etc. There are also about 10 guys in/around the full international side that play club rugby outside Scotland.
The good quality imports that are coming in like Sarto, VDM, Matawalu, Nakarawa, Manu etc make our club sides more competitive and therefore raise the profile of the game, hence making it more appealing to youngsters who then take the sport up.
Given the small crowds who watch our pro-sides then we’ll always lose a large number of pro-players to England and France and there will always be opportunities for young talent to develop at Edinburgh/Glasgow IF they are good enough.
They make those choices as the scottish structure offers no chance of serious game time, partly because we have so many foreign players
^Right so you’re trying to say they leave because they are offered more game time down south? Hmmm right
Both professional squads are packed with scots. I really don’t see the issue with bringing in good quality players like manu, nakawara and sartu. If anything these guys will help the young boys along. Good signing.
Paul Lockier so which Scottish youngsters who deserve game time are currently being denied it? The likes of Ritchie, Bradbury, Kinghorn, Malcolm, Cummings, Fagerson are proof that youngsters are being given a chance if they are good enough.
Over the last few years the number of scots in both starting 15s has declined as has the number in the overall squad, how is that and increasing that trend good for scottish rugby? I would say its people suppirting the signing of foreign players that need a reality check, it hasnt bought us any european success has it? So why do it if results dont follow? It genuinly baffles me this
But it did win a Pro12 championship.
I am not criticising signing foreign players, just particular ones and am upset in losing DTH. Not being negative. I am fully behind the team but it doesn’t negate me from having an opinion. Sorry Colin Ross if you think I don’t know enough. A teensy bit patronising.
Glasgow have 7 NSQ players in a squad of about 53 and Edinburgh 10 NSQ from a similar sized squad. You can argue that some of those foreign imports aren’t really raising the overall standards of the squads and I’d probably agree with those sentiments but if you are saying that the likes of VDM, Matawalu, Nakarawa, Manu etc are detrimental to the development of Scottish players then I’d wholeheartedly disagree.
To all those complaining about this all I can say is. In Toonie we trust.
Not sure why the complaints when Glasgow have developed so many of the current top Scottish internationals and are continuing doing so very well too… A few overseas marquee signings will do little harm, not to mention the squad rotation at the club is also very good. Silly to see people hopping on the bandwagon of negativity without even knowing enough.
Its fine bringing in top drawer international talent. Thats the standard the scottish guys have to compete with anyway. So do it day to day in training. Great signing.
You guys have two pro teams yet one is FULL of foreigners while the other is getting there. We’ve 4 and a huge player drain but we’re only allowed 7 foreign born players in the whole squad.
I’m presuming the one you say is “full” of foreigners is the one which has 16 players in the 6 nations squad and another 3 just called up? Yeah I see what you mean there are no Scots at Glasgow at all!!
Great signing. Carries hard for Italy.
some people are not happy unless they are whinging – yeh ! they need to get a life.
So could someone please articulate how this is helping to develop young Scottish wingers?
Your article pecerftly shows what I needed to know, thanks!