Exiles in League coup
London Irish revealed that they have signed the Super League and Catalan Dragons star Setaimata Sa on a three-year deal.
Setaimata is a powerful, imposing and versatile player who is able to play both as a line-breaking centre or back row forward.
His impressive combination of speed, agility, skill and physicality enable him to play a number of positions, all at the highest level. He is equally comfortable breaking the line as a power runner or using his outstanding play-making skills to release his teammates in the wider channels.
The move to London Irish means that Setaimata will be returning to his sporting roots.
Originally from Canterbury Crusader territory, as a schoolboy rugby union star in New Zealand he was scouted by NRL club, Sydney Roosters in 2006. He subsequently moved to the Super League and Catalan Dragons in 2010. Sa, as he prefers to be called, has a good try-scoring record in senior Rugby League, scoring 13 tries in 66 games for the Sydney Roosters and 10 tries in 39 games for the Catalan Dragons.
A dual Rugby League international, he has been capped three times by New Zealand, helping them to win the world championship title in 2008 and five times by Samoa.
Brian Smith, London Irish’s Director of Rugby said: “There’s no doubt about it, Setaimata is an exciting and wonderfully skilful player and we’re delighted that he will be joining the squad next season. I have followed his NRL and Super League career very closely and he was coached at the Roosters by my good friend and current New South Wales State of Origin coach, Richy Stuart.
“We’ve needed to replace Seilala Mapusua in mid-field for some time now and Sa fits the bill perfectly. He is an outstanding defender and a powerful runner with great physical and technical abilities. Still just 24 years old he already brings with him a wealth of international and top flight rugby experience, as well as winning a Rugby League world cup for New Zealand. We think he is going to take the Aviva Premiership by storm.”
On his signing, Setaimata Sa said: “I’m really excited about joining London Irish. Returning to rugby union is something that I have been considering for a while, it has always been in my blood and testing my skills in the Aviva Premiership will be the ultimate challenge. The style of rugby that the Exiles play and the family values of the Club suit me and my family well. I’m looking forward to getting down to it in the summer and I hope to be able to make an immediate positive impact.”
