Top 14 side Montpellier Herault Rugby have announced the short-term ‘joker’ signing of Samoan prop Logovi’i Mulipola. The 36-year-old arrives in the South of France after departing Newcastle Falcons.
Mulipola’s role as a ‘joker’ sees him provide injury cover for Montpellier, from now until the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The ‘joker’ term is a piece of rugby jargon that is often used in France, to describe a short-term signing when a club’s squad is depleted.
Montpellier will be without their international stars, as they head off to their respective training camps in pursuit of the Web Ellis Trophy. Mulipola is the latest veteran to be announced as a ‘joker’, following on from the confirmation that legendary Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones will take up the same role with Toulon, and join his fellow countryman Dan Biggar.
The Top 14 season commences in August, and squad depth will be key as the international stars will be finalising their preparations before the home-soil Rugby World Cup. Mulipola has made 33 test match caps for Samoa, and is well known by Premiership fans, for his days as a wrecking ball for Leicester Tigers and Falcons. However, as he approaches the twilight of his career, Mulipola is left out of this year’s World Cup squad.
Montpellier Manager and former France winger Philippe Saint-AndrΓ© said to the club website (translated from French):Β “We are happy to welcome Logovi’i to Montpellier HΓ©rault Rugby. He is a prop of experience, versatile, who can play just as well on the right as on the left of the scrum. The orders of our manager Richard Cockerill will be an asset in this period of the World Cup to bring his science to the scrum.”