Samoa wing Lemi makes his debut for Warriors

DAVID Lemi had plenty of advice when it came to opting for Scotland over Japan or France after becoming the fourth Samoan to sign for the Warriors.

The 29-year-old winger will make his debut at Firhill tomorrow night after signing a contract to the end of the season. He arrived last week and has been handed a start against Ulster in the return to RaboDirect Pro12 action, replacing former Ulster wing Tommy Seymour.

Lemi revealed that he had sought advice from former Samoan Warriors trio Opeta Palepoi, Justin Va’a and Lome Fa’atau, and after coping with some early ribbing from the Scotland caps in his new squad over the Scottish defeat of Samoa last autumn, he believes he has made the right choice.

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Lemi, who is married with two boys, four-year-old Pala, born in Samoa, and two-year-old Timo, born in Bristol, said: “I didn’t just choose Glasgow for myself, it was more of a family decision too. After the World Cup we thought maybe Japan or France, but Glasgow rang up my agent and we agreed to come here. I did speak to these guys and they told me good things so I am pleased to be here and looking forward to playing.”

Asked if Glasgow’s was the best financial offer, he said: “Not really, but the club has been good for the last couple of years and it’s a great opportunity for me.

“The way Glasgow play will suit me, certainly from what the coaches have said, and it is an honour to get a call-up for this Friday night against Ulster.”

Lemi, who will be registered to play in the Heineken Cup, was the English Premiership’s top try-scorer with Bristol and Wasps during six years in England, and in 30 Test matches he has played against Scotland in Wellington, in June 2004, and at Pittodrie last November. A key member of the team that just failed to beat South Africa in the recent World Cup, he is hopeful of facing Scotland who tour Samoa next June.

He said: “We were disappointed we didn’t get the results in the World Cup, but we take the lessons out of it. We are far better than before and hopefully in the future we will be there competing with the tier one nations.

“The [Glasgow] boys are laughing at me because they remember last year when we played Scotland at Aberdeen in minus 20. It will be the opposite when they come to Samoa – 36 or 38 degrees.

“But it will be good because not many tier one nations come to Samoa to play games, and that will help us improve our rugby.

“I played Scotland in 2004 in Wellington – my third Test match – so it’s good to be back playing in our home ground.”