Glasgow Warriors sign American Folau Niua

Glasgow Warriors have signed Folau Niua (C) until the end of the season. Picture: Getty

The 29-year-old is due to fly into Glasgow today and will join up with Gregor Townsend’s squad at Scotstoun this week.

Niua has played in 21 sevens tournaments for the USA national team and has scored 239 points, making him the sixth highest points scorer for his country.

He joins directly from the Wellington 7s in New Zealand, where he helped the USA Eagles win the Shield on Saturday.

California-born Niua has been a regular in the USA national sevens team for the past two years, competing in the IRB Sevens World Series.

He has three caps for the full USA national team, starting against Georgia and Russia and coming off the bench against New Zealand Maori last year.

Niua said: “I’m really excited about this new challenge and I’m looking forward to playing in the RaboDirect PRO12 with Glasgow.

“I’ve played against Leone Nakarawa and Niko Matawalu on the sevens circuit and they’re very good players and I enjoyed playing at Scotstoun with the USA sevens team at the Glasgow 7s last year.

“I’m looking forward to training with my new teammates. I’ve been playing a lot of sevens recently, so I’m fit and ready to play games.

“It’ll be the first time I’ve played for a club in Europe, but if things go well I’d love to stay in Glasgow beyond this season. My goal is to go over there and do my best and see what happens.”

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said: “Folau is an exciting player who has a lot of experience, having been a regular for the USA sevens team for the past few years and now with three caps for his full national team.

“He had a cracking game against the New Zealand Maori team at the end of last year and is a real ball-playing centre who is also a very effective ball carrier.

Niua comes in as replacement for Gabriel Ascarate, who left the club last week after picking up a season-ending neck injury.