Edinburgh sign Tongan Lutui as six players depart

EDINBURGH have signed veteran Tongan hooker Aleki Lutui, but both they and Glasgow have confirmed the departure of six much younger players as they reshape squads for next season.

Aleki Lutui: Highly experienced. Picture: Getty

The signing of Lutui is an intriguing one given that he is 34 and been allowed to leave by English Premiership side Worcester. He has been a quality player through his career, a powerful, explosive front row who played for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and enjoyed six seasons in England, during which time he scored 23 tries in 168 games for Worcester and earned 40 caps for Tonga. Interim head coach Stevie Scott insisted that he still had much to give Edinburgh, however.

“Aleki is a great signing for Edinburgh Rugby and I’m sure he’ll prove to be as popular with our fans as he’s been with clubs throughout his career,” he said.

“He’s a top international player with a wealth of experience, and has been one of the top performers in the Premiership. He’s a big, aggressive ball-carrier in excellent condition and, being Tongan, he likes the physical side of the game, which will be a huge asset to the club for the coming seasons.”

Lutui said: “I loved my time in Worcester and would like to thank the fans who were so supportive of me in my time there, but I’m very happy to have signed for Edinburgh Rugby and can’t wait to join up with the squad and get started.

“It’s a big change for me after seven years in Worcester but I’m really looking forward to experiencing a new championship. I’ve watched a lot of the PRO12 and the teams are among the biggest in European rugby. I can’t wait for this new challenge and to contribute to Edinburgh Rugby.”

Edinburgh are releasing veteran England and Lions cap Andy Titterrell but would seem to be well off for a progression of Scottish hookers with Ross Ford having just turned 29 this week and Steve Lawrie, also 29, bringing through Alun Walker (22) and George Turner (20). Ford is the only player away regularly on international duty, and so unless more players are to be released game-time opportunities to develop will be limited again for Walker and Turner in Scotland’s notoriously tight professional game.

Centre James King and wingers Sep Visser – the younger brother of Tim – and Mike Penn will also be leaving this summer along with Titterrell, Allan Jacobsen, Netani Talei, Richie Rees and John Houston, who have already been confirmed.

Scott said: “It’s always a shame to say farewell to players but it’s in the nature of professional sport that we see people move on at this time of year.

“On behalf of Edinburgh Rugby, I’d like to thank them for their contribution to the club. Our last game of the season is at home against the Dragons so the fans will have their chance to thank the players and give them a send-off before we look to the future and begin pre-season preparations.”

Glasgow, meanwhile, have confirmed that Canadian wing Taylor Paris will not have his contract renewed when it ends next month and talented young lock Nick Campbell will follow Scarlets-bound John Barclay to new pastures. The 23-year-old lock will join English Championship side Jersey having made a good impression at the Warriors as a youngster pushing through, but then slipping out of the frame with the arrival of Tim Swinson and Tom Ryder.

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend stated: “Due to the size of our squad both players probably haven’t played as much as they would have liked, but when called upon they’ve done everything asked of them. We’d like to thank them both for contributing to what has been an exceptional squad effort this season and we wish them well for the future.”