Uncontracted Southland Stag lands Welsh gig
Prop has been a problematic area for the Southland Stags in recent years in terms of the number of players they have churned through on the back of the injury rate.
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Uncontracted Southland Stags prop Paula Latu has found a new home with Welsh club the Dragons.
He’s set for a stint playing in the United Rugby Championship in the UK.
Latu made the move from Hawke’s Bay to Southland in 2021 and made an early impression playing off the bench that season and was named the Stags rookie of the year.
He has since also gone on to play five tests for Tonga but - for various reasons - probably hasn’t kicked on at NPC level date as many would have hoped.
The 28-year-old has battled with some injuries during his time in Southland which included missing most of the 2024 NPC season with calf problems.
Latu wasn’t re-signed by the Stags for the 2025 NPC season following this year’s campaign and has since picked up the opportunity in Wales.
Latu has signed a short-term deal as cover for injured Wales tight-head Leon Brown, who has had neck surgery.
Dragons' interim head coach Filo Tiatia said he was pleased to have Latu join them.
“He arrived Monday, linked up with the group, and he will be a good signing for us.
“Paula is a ball-carrying prop, but he can also play. He's an athlete and a young man still learning his craft who we can work with.
"[Dragons forwards coach] Sam Hobbs has looked closely at him and likes what he sees, so it's an opportunity for Paula.”
Prop has been a problematic area for the Stags in recent years in terms of the number of players they have churned through on the back of the injury rate.
This season alone Southland used eight props.
While many of them have gone from club rugby to NPC, most other teams have a stable of props who go from Super Rugby to NPC.
That is viewed by some as a key reason why Southland’s attrition rate in the propping department has been so high.
That high turnover of props has come at a financial cost to the Stags as well.
“We are using so many props… We’ve got to try and convert some of these guys into Super Rugby players,” Rugby Southland director of rugby and Stags coach Matt Saunders said.
Loosehead Jack Sexton had a strong season with the Stags this year and will spend time with the Highlanders on a wider contract during the 2025 Super Rugby which will aid his development.
Youngsters Hunter Fahey and Liam McIntosh at this point loom as the other loosehead options for the Stags in 2025.
Both Fahey and McIntosh had their own injury problems this year with McIntosh breaking his leg.
At this put the experienced Joe Walsh has not been resigned.
In the tighthead department Hamdhan Tuipolutu, Sean Paranihi, and Morgan Mitchell are likely to be options in 2025.