Tagicakibau joins Stormers on-loan

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London Irish and Samoa wing Sailosi Tagicakibau will link up with Super Rugby side the Stormers in the next few days.

London Irish and Samoa wing Sailosi Tagicakibau will link up with Super Rugby side the Stormers in the next few days.

Tagicakibau has been underused by Irish in this campaign having spent nine years with the Exiles.

The 31-year-old moved to London after making eight appearances for the Chiefs in Super Rugby back in 2005.

Tagicakibau has 24 caps for Samoa and has played in the last three Rugby World Cups, but injuries have disrupted his playing time over the last two seasons.

“I signed Losi to London Irish back in 2005 and he has gone on to be one of the best wingers in the Premiership during that period,” said London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith.

“He has been an outstanding servant for our xlub and he's asked for the chance to go and join the Stormers for their Super Rugby campaign.

“We have a lot of options in our back three currently, so we can afford to let him go to Cape Town to continue to play regular rugby.

“We have a good relationship with Robbie Fleck, the backs coach at the Stormers, so we know Losi will be in good hands.

“Jebb Sinclair went down there on loan for a season and came back a better player. We hope it goes well for Losi too.”

Stormers boss Allister Coetzee will hope to have the dynamic winger up to speed before the Stormers embark on a gruelling Australasian tour to play the Crusaders, Chiefs, Brumbies and Reds.

“We've done our research on him, having tracked his progress for some time now,” said Coetzee.

“We have also built up a good understanding with London Irish, after also loaning Jebb Sinclair from the club in 2012, and Sailosi comes highly recommended by (London Irish) Director of Rugby Brian Smith.”