Pirates Unveil 2 New Signings - 19/04/07
More Signings For The Pirates
Salesi FINAU
from Tonga, Salesi is a centre/wing.
He is 6ft tall and weighs 16st 3lbs. He has previously played for Lanelli, Bath
and Bourgoin and has represented Tonga 18 times.
Bruce CUMMING
A South African, Bruce is a lock forward currently playing at Massy in France.
He is 6ft4ins and weighs 18st. He is a strong, aggressive ball-carrier and an
excellent line-out forward.
Iva MOTUSAGA
Iva needs no introduction,
having played at Pirates since 2004 and being an exceptional player and firm favourite
of our supporters.
Comment
New Cornish Pirates signing Salesi Finau admits he cannot wait to team up with the National League One club next season after agreeing a move from top French side Bourgoin.
The 34-year-old Tongan international back is the latest in a line of new additions coach Jim McKay has already made ahead of the 2007/08 campaign - and he will be joined in the Duchy by South African forward Bruce Cumming, who will be joining from Massy, another French club.
Finau, who has been capped 18 times by his country, heads to the Westcountry with an already proven rugby CV. It is one that has seen him play Heineken Cup rugby for Bourgoin, Bath and Llanelli Scarlets, as well as top flight league rugby for all three clubs. He has also played Rugby League for Warrington.
Standing at 6ft tall and weighing in at 16 stone 3lbs, Finau - who is equally at home on the wing or in the centre - will offer a powerful new dimension to the Pirates' back division next term.
He said: "I am very much looking forward to joining the Pirates next season. I have heard excellent reports about the club set-up and I am very keen to be part of it. My aim will be to contribute towards the club's efforts in achieving its goals."
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Meanwhile, the arrival of 26-year-old Cumming is another major positive for the Pirates.
Like Finau, the South African second-row is another massive addition to the Pirates' playing ranks. Standing at 6'4 and tipping the scales at 18 stone, Cumming is a previous Springboks Under-21 trialist and has also featured for the South African Central Districts.
This season Cumming has helped play a leading role in Massy's push for promotion into the Pro D2 in France. A very good line-out forward, he is also a sound receiver of kick-offs, as well as a strong ball-carrier, who has played a number of seasons in South Africa's Currie Cup competition.
The duo take McKay's new arrivals for next season to six following the captures of Brian Tuohy and Gareth Steenson (both Rotherham), Rob Elloway (Gloucester) and Nick Buckley (Moseley). However, the Australian has admitted more new faces are in the pipeline.
As well as landing the signatures of both Finay and Cumming, McKay has also spoke of his delight after Samoan international Iva Motusaga this week agreed to extend his stay with the Pirates.
The all-action openside has proved a big hit amongst the Pirates' faithful since his arrival in Cornwall at the start of the 2004/05 season.
McKay said yesterday: "Salesi will be very effective at our level. He comes highly recommended as both a player and as a character. He brings with him a lot of experience from playing at a higher level and he also has good leadership skills.
"Bruce is another who we have high hopes for. We've been keeping an eye on him for a couple of years and now we've got him on board, which is great. He's an abrasive lock, but he's also a very good rugby player who will offer us lots of dimensions. We're delighted to have both guys on board."
The Australian also expressed his pleasure at Motusaga's decision to prolong his stay with Cornwall's premier club. He added: "Iva's been a big part of our club and our plans over the last two seasons. He is very much part of our culture and is quality rugby player. At the start of the season he perhaps struggled with one or two niggly injuries, but over the last two or three months we've seen him at his very best. He's a Rolls Royce of a seven and a quality performer who I feel could easily play at the next level."
Motusaga himself is very happy to have pledged his future. He added: "I am very happy at the club, especially after what happened at the weekend. That was just amazing and certainly one of the highlights of my career so far."
Having arrived a relative unknown two seasons ago, Motusaga has since gone on to cause havoc to opposing National One sides with his dynamic displays.
"I've really enjoyed my rugby since I've been here," he added. "The club is definitely on the up and now the aim has to be to try and win the league and get promoted next season."
