Connacht have bolstered their front-row options with the acquisition of Tietie Tuimauga.
The Samoan joins having most recently played at club level with New Zealand outfit Manawatu.
He also has international experience, gaining two caps with Samoa earlier this year.
He featured against both the Maori All Blacks and Tonga in the summer.
🟢 𝙒𝙀𝙇𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀 𝙏𝙄𝙀𝙏𝙄𝙀 🟢
Samoan international prop Tietie Tuimauga has joined Connacht Rugby 💪
Full story: https://t.co/WGIe2OQlg3 pic.twitter.com/qV9NGHUZ4n— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) October 5, 2021
With Denis Buckley set for a long-term absence having sustained an ACL injury at the end of last season, Tuimauga will provide cover.
The loosehead prop is 28 years of age and will link up with the squad at the Sportsground in the coming weeks.
Connacht Head Coach Andy Friend was pleased to confirm his imminent arrival to Galway.
“It’s no secret we’ve been exploring further options at loosehead following Denis Buckley’s long-term injury, so we are really pleased to welcome Tietie to Connacht," Friend said.
"We now have strong cover across all of our front row, which is a good place to be, and with Tietie’s experience he’ll offer us something different.
"We now have a Pro squad of 44 plus a number of integrated Academy players, so I’m really pleased with the group we have assembled.
"Our sole focus now is on building on last week’s win when we face the Dragons on Saturday.”
Connacht got their first win of the new United Rugby Championship campaign last Friday.
They bounced back from a disappointing loss to Cardiff the previous week to beat The Bulls 34-7.
They host the Dragons on Saturday evening at 5.15.
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