Tahs lure Blues prop to Sydney
The Waratahs have secured the services of Blues tighthead prop Angus Ta'avao on a two-year contract that will see the 25-year-old playing for the franchise from the 2016 season onwards.
Ta'avao will finish the season with his NPC side Taranaki in New Zealand, before moving to Australia to begin his time with the Waratahs.
Daryl Gibson, who will take over from Michael Cheika as Waratahs coach after the completion of the current season, was instrumental in the signing of the front row forward – described as a "ferocious defender", combining excellent mobility for a prop, with high tackle success rate.
Gibson said the recruitment of Ta'avao would add significant depth to the stocks of the Waratahs front row.
"We are delighted to secure the services of a quality player like Angus, who is highly-regarded by our players as a very capable tighthead and a determined competitor," Gibson said.
"His addition to our squad for 2016 will shore up our personnel in the tighthead position alongside Paddy Ryan, and will provide substantial depth and versatility to the front row."
Waratahs CEO Greg Harris said it was a great opportunity for Ta'avao, who is eligible to play for Australia because of his mother's birthplace being Geelong, Victoria.
"Angus is great recruit for us, and we're extremely pleased he has committed to the Waratahs," Harris said.
"Our interest in him really developed following a meeting which he had with Daryl Gibson earlier this year.
"Daryl was as impressed with the quality of the character of the man as much as his rugby ability.
"He is a great fit for the Waratahs culture and his recruitment has already attracted interest from the ARU.
"It's a shame that Gus didn't get to reach his 50th Super Rugby cap milestone with the Blues, but we are looking forward to him achieving that milestone with the Waratahs."
Ta'avao was a member of the 2010 New Zealand Under-20 team that went on to success in the Junior World Championship, and captained them in their first match of the tournament.
He made his provincial debut for Auckland in 2010 against Taranaki, the club to which he transferred and won a Premiership with in 2014. He has since gone on to play 50 matches at a provincial level, and 48 at Super Rugby level with the Blues.
In 2014, Ta'avao was part of the John Kirwan coached Barbarian side that took on the Wallabies at Twickenham.
