Powerful Taqele Naiyaravoro leaves Newport Gwent Dragons players sprawling

There has been a mix of good and bad news for Glasgow Warriors on the player retention front this week. The bad news is that Taqele Naiyarovoro will be evoking an exit clause and leaving at the end of this season, 1 third of the way through his original contract. The good news is that promising young scrumhalf Ali Price as well as loosehead prop Alex Allan and tighthead prop Sila Puafisi have extended their contracts in varying amounts.

The loss of Naiyarovoro is no surprise as the speculation of this happening has been rife all season, in fact from even before he arrived in Glasgow. The detail on the actual timing of his departure is a little sketchy as it has been reported that he will leave at the end of Glasgow’s season but at the same time that he will join the Waratahs for Super Rugby 2016, but this starts before the end of Glasgow’s season. Apparently he is on quite a lucrative package and his departure will at least free up some funds for other players to either be retained or recruited by the club.

Naiyarovoro arguably played his best match for Glasgow Warriors thus far at home against Scarlets in the European Rugby Champions Cup. He was at his powerful best and steamrollered his way to a hat trick of tries in this match. Hopefully, he can make a big contribution to the Warriors cause  for the rest of the season before he departs.

More detail courtesy of glasgowwarriors:

Departure of Taqele Naiyaravoro confirmed:

The Warriors have confirmed that winger Taqele Naiyaravoro will return to Australia at the end of the season.

The Australia international has decided to activate a break clause in his contract with the Warriors to join the Waratahs for the 2016 Super Rugby season.

Fiji-born Taqele signed a 3 year deal with the Glasgow Warriors after an impressive 2015 Super Rugby season with the Waratahs.

Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend told Warriors HQ: “We were always aware that it could happen. His contract was a 3-year contract, but he had a clause that said after his 1st year if he didn’t settle he could go back to Sydney.

“I think that he’s done really well and he has settled well, but he’s made that decision to go back to Australia. The fact he played a Test match before the World Cup – that’s obviously a big draw, to try and get back in the Australian team, which he wouldn’t have been able to do if he’d stayed with us.

“He’s fitted in well. Him and Leone (Nakarawa) became best friends, he’s worked hard, and we’ve seen some cracking performances from him. We know there’s still a bit of improving to do, and we really want to work hard with him over the next few months so he gets into the team, fights for his place in the team and plays well.”

Leone Nakarawa has also been linked with a move to Racing 92 with the big-spending French club thought to be willing to pay a transfer fee to release the Fijian lock from his contract with the Warriors.

Ali Price gets a new deal:

Glasgow scrumhalf Ali Price has signed a new 2 year deal with the club.

Ali started the season as a member of the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy but signed his 1st professional contract with Glasgow in December 2015. That deal ran until the end of the season but his new contract will keep him at Scotstoun until at least May 2018.

Born in Kings Lynn, the Scotland Under 20 international has made 16 appearances for the Warriors, 9 of which have come in this campaign and he was part of the PRO12 title-winning squad last season.

He previously played for Bedford Blues and was part of the Saracens Storm ‘A’ league set-up.

Ali said: “I’m delighted to sign a new 2-year contract to extend my stay with the Warriors.

“I’ve loved life in Glasgow since moving up here and the last few months have been great, as I’ve played regularly and I feel I’ve made a positive impact.

“Being able to train and play with quality players at Scotstoun has also allowed me to improve aspects of my game.”

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said: “Ali is continually developing as a scrumhalf and it’s great news that he’s staying with us for the next couple of years.

“He’s worked hard on his game over the past 12 months, and you can see the confidence he now has in his kicking game and taking on the defence with ball in hand.

“The most important attributes of a scrumhalf are a fast and accurate pass, as well as a high fitness level and Ali has done well in these areas this season, seizing the opportunity to play for us in some important games.”

Contract extensions for Alex Allan and Sila Puafisi:

Glasgow props Alex Allan and Sila Puafisi have both signed new contracts.

Loosehead Alex, a 23-year-old Scotland international, has extended his stay until 2018 while Tongan tighthead Sila has committed until the end of next season.

Alex, who joined from Edinburgh in 2014, said: “I’m really enjoying my rugby in Glasgow with the way we play. There’s a great set-up at the club and the atmosphere in the squad is good as well.

“Last year was a great 1st season, but I’m always looking to improve and I feel I can do that at the Warriors.

“Being named in the Scotland squad for the RBS 6 Nations was a huge honour and I want to build on that selection and try and get more caps.”

Sila has been an ever-present since joining from Gloucester last summer.

The 27-year-old said: “I’ve settled well in Glasgow and was delighted to sign for another year at the Warriors.

“I’ve made some really good friends at the club and all the players look after me and keep me right. The set-up at the club is great and the standard of play is really high.

“My wife and son really enjoy life in Scotland, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the season to see what we can achieve as well as next year too.”

Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend, who added to his front row earlier this month by signing New Zealander Jarrod Firth, said: “Alex has been working hard on his set-piece game to build on his outstanding ability in general play.

“He’s had international recognition and is currently training with the Scotland squad and we believe he will continue to develop in our environment.

“Sila integrated so quickly after the Rugby World Cup it was as if he’d been a Warrior for the past 10 years. His workrate in training and in games is excellent, and he has been really solid at scrum time.”