Premiership: Worcester sign Hame Faiva, Don Armand retires
Worcester Warriors made the headline signing on a busy day of Premiership player movements, signing Italian hooker Hame Faiva from Benetton.
Faiva, 27, has been in Italy for five years since heading there from New Zealand, where he had represented Counties Manukau and Waikato.
Vision
He qualified for the Italian international team through residency and made his debut against Uruguay in November last year, making a further three appearances in the Six Nations this year.
Worcester’s current lead rugby consultant Steve Diamond was looking forward to a player he believed fitted the mould of what he wants for the team next season.
“I have a vision of what Worcester’s pack will look like in 12 months’ time,” he said.
“The top sides in the Premiership have two packs of forwards, Hame and Curtis Langdon will compete for the hooker spot.
“Hame is a very aggressive and mobile hooker who has impressed me. His work-rate is exceptional and he has an abrasiveness about him that rubs off on fellow players.”
Worcester have been targeting forwards so far in recruitment, with hooker Langdon, flanker Cameron Neild and the Western Force pair of lock Fergus Lee-Warner and Argentina international tighthead prop Santiago Medrano already signed up for next season.
Meanwhile, Exeter are preparing to say goodbye to flanker Don Armand, who is retiring to focus on family life and business matters at the age of 33.
Armand has amassed 193 appearances in Devon, scoring 37 tries and winning two England caps as well.
“Don has been fantastic for us,” said the Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter.
“I was looking at clips this week of when we won the Premiership for the first time – and the montages we had put together – and Don was massively involved in all of them.
“When you look back, he has been involved in some huge games for us and is probably one of those main guys who has pushed us forward and provided that inspiration on how we play and what we have achieved.
“Individually, he’s been fantastic for us but equally, he’s one of the most popular squad members we’ve had at the club over the past ten years. It’s hard for me to express just how good he has been, both on and off the field.”
Harlequins have retained the services of academy graduate Archie White, with the 24-year-old flanker signing a new contract.
White has played 55 times for Quins over the past five seasons and was delighted to remain a one-club player.
“It’s an amazing feeling to re-sign with Quins once again. This team is looking to build something incredible, and I can’t wait to try and play a big part in that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Newcastle Falcons have tied cross-code youth international Iwan Stephens, son of former Wales international fly-half Colin, to a new two-year contract.
The 20-year-old has been out for much of this season with a knee injury, but recently returned to action in the Premiership Cup.
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