Lineen uses some of Gray cash to sign Samoan wing Lemi

GLASGOW have signed Samoan winger David Lemi, after coach Sean Lineen acted swiftly to use some of the money handed over by the SRU from the failed bid to persuade Richie Gray to stay in Scotland.

Lineen had been on the look-out for a top-quality winger to replace the injured DTH van der Merwe and when Gray turned down an offer of more than £300,000 a year, SRU chief executive Mark Dodson told Glasgow that they could use some of that money to strengthen the squad.

Canadian wing van der Merwe suffered a shoulder injury while starring in the World Cup and medics are still working to fully ascertain how serious the injury is, but he faces several months out of the game. Lineen quickly concluded a deal with Lemi, who left Wasps at the end of last season and took his international appearances to 30 in the 13-5 defeat to South Africa in the World Cup, to the end of this season. The 29-year-old is due to arrive in Glasgow on Tuesday, and so is not available this weekend, but having lived in the UK since 2005, he is classed as a UK resident and will be registered to play in the Heineken Cup. He will swap with centre David McCall, who Glasgow have released to Rotherham on a month’s loan.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lemi said: “One look at the squad list tells you that this is a club with a lot of talented players, and I’m confident that I can bring the benefit of my own experience to bear and play a part in the side continuing to win.

“Having spoken to Sean Lineen, I’ve already got an insight to the passion and commitment that I’ll find at the club. They’ve been doing well of late, and I can’t wait to do my bit to make sure that run continues.”

Lemi finished runner-up in and topped the English Premiership try-scoring charts in his two seasons at Bristol, before moving to Wasps in 2009 and becoming the league’s joint top marksman. He has twice played for Samoa against Scotland, in Wellington in June 2004 and at Pittodrie in November 2010.

Lineen said: “David is a gifted performer who ticks all the boxes in terms of what we’re looking for in a player. He’s hungry, he handles pressure well and he’s a proven try-scorer.”

Glasgow have also released Rory Pitman back to the Ospreys after his six-month loan period came to an end.

Related topics: