Glasgow Warriors have signed Australian international tighthead prop Sam Talakai ahead of the new season, subject to a visa.
The 32-year-old will compete with Scotland duo Zander Fagerson and Murphy Walker, as well as new arrivals, Patrick Schickerling and Fin Richardson, plus academy prospects Callum Norrie and Jake Shearer, on the tighthead side of the scrum.
Talakai told the club website: “I’m really looking forward to joining the squad. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the club and the people, and the direction the club is heading played a big part.
“The rugby program is impressive, there’s a great squad assembled and my kids getting to experience a new culture – both as part of Glasgow Warriors and in the city of Glasgow – is the cherry on top.”
Talakai made his professional debut against the British and Irish Lions in 2013 before making his Super Rugby breakthrough with the Queensland Reds, making 40 appearances between 2015 and 2017.
He then joined the Melbourne Rebels – and future Glasgow Warriors team-mate Sione Tuipulotu – ahead of the 2018 season and quickly became a near ever-present for his new squad, missing only one match across a two-year stint with the franchise.
After a short spell in Japan at the end of 2018, three seasons at Suntory Sungoliath followed, helping a star-studded Sungoliath squad reach three Grand Finals before returning to the Rebels ahead of the 2023 Super Rugby campaign.
Talakai’s form saw him drafted into the Australia squad for the 2022 Autumn Nations Series, with former Glasgow boss Dave Rennie handing the tighthead his international debut against Wales.
He featured in all 29 of the Melbourne Rebels matches in the past two Super Rugby campaigns, and made his 100th appearance in the competition in the Rebels' quarter-final defeat to the Hurricanes earlier this year.
Talakai added: “I spoke with Franco [Smith] earlier in the year and he talked about the club’s vision and the direction we’re travelling as a group. It was an impressive catch-up and I’m excited to get stuck in.
“Since then, I’ve been in regular contact with Sione [Tuipulotu]. We played together in Australia and he spoke really highly of the club, the group and the city.
"Those conversations, and hearing the positive things everyone has to say about the club, made the decision quite easy for me in the end.
“On the field, I’m someone who just goes to work and executes my core role for the team. Off the field I’m pretty chilled. My family and I will just look to settle in and connect to the community, and we’re looking forward to meeting the Warrior Nation soon.”
Head Coach Franco Smith added: “Sam is a proven performer who we believe can add to our squad this season.
“To play 100 matches in Super Rugby shows the consistently high levels of performance he brings, and to have someone with that experience in our squad that our young, Scottish-qualified front-rowers can learn from can only benefit both the club and Scottish rugby in the long-term.
“Adding Sam also allows us to manage the workload of our senior international front-rowers, across what will be a long and physical season.
“We look forward to welcoming him to Scotstoun and to our squad in the coming weeks.”
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