Moving on: Sean Maitland
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Glasgow Warriors and Scottish Rugby have announced that Crusaders full-back or winger Sean Maitland will be joining the RaboDirect PRO12 outfit.
The 24-year-old is one of the most highly-rated outside backs in Super Rugby, and qualifies to play for Scotland courtesy of both his paternal Grandparents who were born in Glasgow.
Subject to medical and visa, he will join up with the Warriors squad in the coming weeks, having put pen to paper on a contract that will keep him at Scotstoun Stadium until at least the May 31, 2015.
Since making his Super Rugby debut in 2008, Maitland has scored some 24 tries, equaling the record for the most individual touchdowns in a single tournament game when he crossed the try-line four times against the Brumbies in 2011.
He was a part of the New Zealand U19 team that won the World Cup in 2007, and the U20 side that scooped the 2008 Junior World Championship. Maitland scored against Argentina, Ireland and Wales in that latter tournament.
In 2010, he represented the New Zealand Maori team, and commended himself to the British audience with two tries for the Crusaders at Twickenham in their showcase Super Rugby game against the Sharks in March 2011.
"We're delighted to be welcoming a player of Sean Maitland's calibre to Glasgow Warriors," head coach Gregor Townsend told glasgowwarriors.org.
"The back three is an area of the team where we already have a number of excellent options, and Sean will provide a further layer of quality as we enter another busy phase of the season.
"His try-scoring record in Super Rugby speaks for itself, and he's also a player who has a big appetite for self-improvement. He will be a fantastic addition to our squad and will, I'm sure, be very popular with our supporters.
"It's another indication of our increasing profile of Glasgow Warriors that a player of Sean's ability and ambition sees us as a club where he can continue to progress."
Comments
sbobrfc says...
Christ! Didn't see this coming, Lions time maybe?!
Posted 15:15 23rd October 2012
three6three6 says...
Maitland is a very good player.... but there are so many very good players in the outside backs within New Zealand rugby at the moment. There is no doubt that he is immediately qualified to play for Scotland..... has not disqualified himself by representing New Zealand.... therefore he is entitled to ply his trade internationally with Scotland. Good luck to you Sean! Another kilted Kiwi heads to Scotland.... and long may the tradition continue...
Posted 15:12 23rd October 2012
Sheridan says...
Glasgow!! Wow, does he know what he's getting himself into?? Big step away from Crusader territory, half a world away even....
Posted 15:09 23rd October 2012
melkdave says...
Well i see nothing wrong in what Glasgow and the SRU have done here.S.Maitland is a very good player potential world class imoNow i know he isnt surplus to requirements in NZ pretty sure Crusaders ,dont want to lose him at all.But as ive said elsewhere its now a global market in regards to goods and services.Maitland is nearing his peak years ,and he has decided to earn as much money as possible,while following his dream of playing international rugby asap..Just where is he in the pecking order in NZ 4-5 trh at best ,2while for Scotland his going to be 1st choice nodought about it come the 6Ns Releasing S.Hogg to play centre ,which alot of fans think is his best posistion with M.Scott
Posted 14:50 23rd October 2012
Carpelone says...
He will be yawning out wide waiting for the ball.
Easy earned money, being a Scot back these days.
Posted 14:03 23rd October 2012
GCP_jones says...
Wow there's a coup for Galsgow, excellent player from what I have seen. Send him the words of Flower A' Scotland quick.
Even though they have lost 2 of their games in the Heineken, you have to feel that if they get there serious injury crisis sorted out, along with the signing of the likes of Josh Strauss and now Maitland they will have a strong say on how the pool pan's out, along with being real contender's in the Pro 12.
The way they are building there squad I bet Richie Gray regrets leaving for Sale.
Posted 13:30 23rd October 2012
Andy1000 says...
The eligibility rules allow for this sort of thing but without them the smaller nations would suffer. Maitland playing for Scotland is no different to the NZ born players turning out for Samoa also using the parent/grandparent rule and that's not seen as a problem.
He's known for having an attitude problem which is why he's gone off the radar a little bit. Will suit him being a big fish in a smaller pond.
However, surely it has to bother the other Scottish players that he's there when they're doing the team talk before a match and talking about national pride etc.
Posted 13:10 23rd October 2012
Ferdie says...
trivia time, born same town (Tokoroa), same year (1988) as Quade Cooper - a good year for rugby internationals in small town NZ.
If he hadn't made this decision suspect he'd have been in UK next month anyway, touring with NZ Maori.
Posted 13:08 23rd October 2012
Jediboy says...
Good player. He will do well.
Posted 13:07 23rd October 2012
BODsGODmisspelt says...
Crusaders to Glasgow, some step down.
Unbelieveable signing for Glasgow. I thought Strauss was a pretty decent signing but this tops that
Posted 12:46 23rd October 2012
miller12 says...
I thought the whole problem with Steve Shingler representing Scotland was that he played for Wales's '2nd' team therefore he was ineligible. I am not sure what the NZ 2nd team is, but it surely would be the Maori/U20's, therefore how is Maitland different to Steve Shingler in terms of eligibility?
Posted 12:38 23rd October 2012
JayStarr says...
Noooooooooooooooo...! I love Sean Maitland! Don't leave Super Rugby!! Come play for the Stormers!
Posted 12:38 23rd October 2012
TheHotstepper says...
This is an absolutely outrageous signing by Glasgow! Gobsmacked!
Posted 12:19 23rd October 2012
philipjfry says...
I hope that we don't start to see a trend develop in New Zealand selections where a player gets capped once, to make him ineligible for other nations and then never again. Was Maitland ever close to a AB call-up?
Posted 12:17 23rd October 2012
Bones7 says...
Well that's Maitland straight into the Scotland squad for the 6N. Can't argue if 2 out of 4 grandparents are Scottish
Posted 12:12 23rd October 2012
Ferdie says...
So he could front up against the All Blacks in November.
Don't tell Steve Hansen!
Article says he is eligible for Scotland, so presume the 2008 U-20 team was not NZ's nominated second team that year? as otherwise he'd be disqualified, must have also been a NZ 'A team maybe.
Good luck to him.
Posted 12:09 23rd October 2012
APV1 says...
I thought it was Oz that was poaching NZ talent...
Don't tell me that these players have their own minds and can choose where they want to play? I assumed it was all a fix and they were plucked, unbeknownst to even themself, and transported away under the cover of darkness. After a series of brainwashes, they emerge, like a butterfly from a chrysalis, with a new nationality.
It's a professional sport and the IRB sets the eligibility rules. We need to petition the IRB or suck it up.
(And, yes, I have sent my views to the IRB)
Posted 12:07 23rd October 2012
hybrid187 says...
Another product churned out the worlds rugby factory....
I predict he will start for Scotland in every game this November.
Posted 11:54 23rd October 2012