Six new signings to watch in the PRO14

Colin Newboult
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Ahead of the forthcoming 2019/20 PRO14 campaign, we have looked into each side’s new signings and picked out our players to watch.

Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues): Has developed into one of the best wings in Europe since making his Wales debut in 2018 after impressing for Worcester Warriors in the Premiership. The speedster is currently at the World Cup and starred against Georgia in their opening encounter, showing superb pace and balance to touch down for a brilliant individual try. With Warren Gatland wanting his squad to play within the country, the Blues managed to acquire his services and he will be a crucial component in their squad once the global tournament finishes. Cardiff Blues are building nicely under Australian John Mulvihill and the additions of Adams, alongside fellow new signing Hallam Amos, certainly adds depth to their back three ranks. With the gargantuan Owen Lane on one wing and the niftier former Worcester player on another, they will have plenty of threat out wide this season.

Sam Carter (Ulster): The Wallabies second-row is an experienced campaigner, who leaves Super Rugby outfit the Brumbies after nine seasons and more than 100 appearances for the Canberra-based franchise. After successful short-term stints in recent years from fellow Brumbies stalwarts Christian Lealiifano and Henry Speight at Ulster, there will be greats expectations from the Kingspan faithful on Carter. Although he is not as flashy as the aforementioned duo, the 30-year-old will add value to his new team’s ranks. Carter performs well in the lineouts but is also an adept ball carrier and solid in the tackle – especially at close quarters. He is a tough competitor with a high work-rate, who emerged as a genuine leader at the Brumbies in recent seasons, and will be aiming to do that at Ulster as well during the upcoming PRO14 season.

Sam Davies (Dragons): The fly-half was once the great new hope in Welsh rugby after starring in the 2013 World Rugby U20 Championship, earning the Junior Player of the Year award in the process, but it has never quite happened for the former age-grade star. Now 25, the pivot has moved to the Newport outfit to reinvigorate his career and hopefully add to the eight Wales caps he has collected since making his debut in 2016. With the Swansea region signing Gareth Anscombe, it effectively forced Davies to find pastures new – albeit the 28-year-old’s injury sustained on international duty has left the Ospreys in a bit of a quandary – and he must take this opportunity. Given the Dragons’ struggles, they may not necessarily be the greatest team to excel in but, should the fly-half reach his potential at Rodney Parade, a recall for the 2020 Six Nations is a possibility.

Jack McGrath (Ulster): After several good years in the green shirt of Ireland – form which saw him feature in all three British and Irish Lions Tests against the All Blacks in 2017 – the talented prop has endured a stark decline. Renowned for his strong scrummaging, McGrath hasn’t enjoyed the same type of dominance since that tour to New Zealand and lost both his international and provincial starting spots to Cian Healy. Dave Kilcoyne has also usurped the 29-year-old in the national team, meaning that the Dublin-born loosehead was left out of the World Cup squad for the tournament in Japan. However, the move to Belfast offers the prop a chance for a fresh start with Ulster looking to continue their improvement under Dan McFarland. They are a side heading in the right direction under McFarland and McGrath is a savvy signing for a side looking to bolster their front five.

Aki Seiuli (Glasgow Warriors): The loosehead had to bide his time at provincial level before making his Super Rugby debut for the Highlanders in 2016, but Seiuli soon became a crucial part of their squad. Having now decided to move to the northern hemisphere, the prop will suit the Warriors’ all-action style under Dave Rennie due to his exceptional athleticism. The 26-year-old is also a solid scrummager but it is around the field where Glasgow will get the most from the ex-Otago man, who carries hard and off-loads well. Seiuli will certainly improve the Scottish outfit’s front-row as they seek to build on a positive campaign in 2018/2019, which saw them reach the final. They are just a step below the top teams in Europe at the moment, such as Leinster and Saracens, but a powerful front-row, combined with all the talent they have out wide, will go a long way to potentially challenging those sides.

Ruan Pienaar (Cheetahs): The veteran scrum-half returned to South Africa two months ago and played a pivotal role during the Cheetahs’ victorious Currie Cup campaign. The 35-year-old, who can also play fly-half, is no stranger to this competition as he enjoyed a successful stint with Ulster in the PRO12 and represented the province in 141 matches between 2010 and 2017. The 2007 Rugby World Cup winner’s experience of European conditions will come in handy for the Bloemfontein-based outfit as they will be hoping for a much improved showing in the PRO14 after finishing in second last position in their conference during the 2018/19 season. A fine playmaker, with great vision, Pienaar’s excellent game-management and superb goal-kicking skills should make a big difference in helping the Cheetahs become contenders in this competition again and help them over the line in close matches.

Cardiff Rugby