Saili Eyes Silverware After Turning His Back On All Blacks
The Rugby Paper|July 23, 2017

GIFTED centre Francis Saili believes his unique brand of passing skills, embellished by gainline-busting, off-loading qualities reminiscent of Sonny Bill Williams can help fire Harlequins to their first silverware in five years.

 
Neale Harvey
Saili Eyes Silverware After Turning His Back On All Blacks

Twice-capped former All Black Saili, 26, revealed how he turned down a chance to head home to fight for a World Cup place after leaving Munster in May. Instead, he is delighted to be pitting his wits in the Premiership in a star-studded Harlequins midfield.

Saili, who will do battle with Jamie Roberts and rising England star Joe Marchant, told The Rugby Paper: “Everything was open to me – France, England or Super Rugby – but I saw joining Harlequins as a huge opportunity for myself and my partner.

“I had a chat with Charles Piutau, who played in England for Wasps before joining Ulster, and we agreed these are the sort of opportunities we never get back home... to live in London, play rugby here and embrace the European competition.

“You’ve just got to take them and whether that means sacrificing your All Blacks dream, at the end of the day it’s a different perspective for us. We see the world through different lenses and I’ve been blessed throughout my career in that regard.

“My family come from Samoa where they never really had these opportunities so you’ve just got to embrace it. Part of it is about supporting my family as well, so that’s why I wanted to come to a team like Harlequins that’s really family orientated.

“I had an open mind but (rugby director) John Kingston kept tabs on me and reassured me that they’d look after everything off the field as well as on it. If a player’s not happy at home it can affect the rugby, so that was very important to me.”

この記事は The Rugby Paper の July 23, 2017 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は The Rugby Paper の July 23, 2017 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

THE RUGBY PAPERのその他の記事すべて表示
England show who's No.1
The Rugby Paper

England show who's No.1

ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.

time-read
1 min  |
September 15, 2024
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
The Rugby Paper

Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it

THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.

time-read
3 分  |
September 15, 2024
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
The Rugby Paper

Looking to go one step beyond this time around

NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.

time-read
3 分  |
September 15, 2024
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
The Rugby Paper

Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin

ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.

time-read
3 分  |
September 15, 2024
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
The Rugby Paper

Time for Borthwick to prove his worth

HONEYMOON periods are not set in stone and in my estimation Steve Borthwick’s ends this summer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still in good shape.

time-read
4 分  |
September 15, 2024
Barrington ready to power up the Mob
The Rugby Paper

Barrington ready to power up the Mob

RICHARD Barrington has signed up to the Ampthill “Mob” reassured that he’ll still have a target on his back most weeks.

time-read
4 分  |
September 15, 2024
Skivington keen to build identity
The Rugby Paper

Skivington keen to build identity

GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.

time-read
3 分  |
September 15, 2024
Roebuck targets England success
The Rugby Paper

Roebuck targets England success

WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.

time-read
2 分  |
September 15, 2024
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
The Rugby Paper

Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving

TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.

time-read
3 分  |
September 15, 2024
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
The Rugby Paper

Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals

DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.

time-read
2 分  |
September 15, 2024