Samoa appear to have dropped a major hint about a potential Leicester Tigers signing, with the club in need of cover at hooker following a series of injuries.
Richie Asiata has been listed as a Leicester player in Samoa’s squad for their World Rugby Nations Cup fixtures this November, suggesting a move to the PREM Rugby side could be on the cards.
The 30-year-old is currently playing for NPC outfit Tasman Mako and has made more than 50 appearances for the Queensland Reds.
His only previous experience in Europe came at the start of last season, when he featured once for URC side Benetton against Connacht.
Asiata has won two caps for Samoa, both coming this summer in Nations Cup defeats to Georgia and Romania.
There are further signs that a move could be close.
The hooker was absent from Tasman’s squad for last weekend’s victory over Waikato, having featured in each of their previous seven matches.
He has also been left out of the squad for tomorrow’s quarter-final clash with Northland.
A potential signing of this nature would make plenty of sense given Leicester’s current injury problems in the position.
Tigers recently brought in Corbin Thunder from National League 1 side Sale on a short-term deal to help address the shortage.
Thunder came off the bench to play the final 12 minutes of their victory over Newcastle Red Bulls, which secured their first PREM win of the season after an opening-day defeat to Saracens at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Jamie Blamire has now returned from injury and is set to start tomorrow’s Slater Cup clash against Gloucester.
However, Jack Doorey-Palmer and Charlie Clare remain sidelined with foot and shoulder injuries respectively.
The situation has also been made worse by Finn Theobald-Thomas’s unfortunate retirement earlier this week. The hooker, just 23, was forced to call time on his career because of ongoing injuries.
With three of the hookers named in Leicester’s squad at the start of the season currently unavailable, bringing in another option would be a logical move.
If the move does go ahead, Asiata is believed to be a potential replacement for Thunder, who could return to Sale once his short-term deal expires.
The Samoa international would offer Leicester a sizeable option in the front row.
A converted prop, Asiata brings plenty of physical presence and could provide valuable cover while Tigers work through their injury problems.
Nothing has been officially confirmed, the details in Samoa’s squad announcement could yet prove to be a mistake.
However, with the hooker also missing from Tasman’s recent squads, the signs are certainly intriguing.
Whether it is a short-term injury-cover deal or something more permanent remains to be seen, but this could prove to be a significant slip-up from Samoa.
