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Taniela Tupou
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen is preserving his playing cards near his chest amid rising hypothesis that Australia prop Taniela Tupou might be on his approach to the province subsequent season.
The 27-year-old, nicknamed ‘Tongan Thor’ because of his sheer dimension, has reportedly been supplied a big-money transfer to Leinster, along with his present membership the Melbourne Rebels dealing with an unsure future.
Montpellier are additionally believed to have proven vital curiosity in signing Tupou, who stands at 178cm and suggestions the scales at a whopping 135kg.
The tighthead has been capped 51 instances by the Wallabies, whose new boss Joe Schmidt could be reluctant to lose one one his main belongings forward of subsequent summer time’s Lions tour and Australia’s 2027 dwelling World Cup.
Nonetheless, with Leinster’s present abroad tighthead Michael Ala’alatoa becoming a member of Clermont subsequent season, Cullen might be out there for one more marquee signing on the again of touchdown RG Snyman from Munster.
“There’s a number of hypothesis in the mean time now,” Cullen stated.
“We’re very a lot centered on the right here and the now. He’s (Tupou) actually huge and highly effective anyway, isn’t he? We admire a number of gamers on the market, so we do, however we’ve nothing official to announce sadly.”
In additional instant issues, Cullen is sweating over the health of Andrew Porter and Garry Ringrose forward of subsequent week’s Champions Cup spherical of 16 conflict with Leicester, after the Eire duo had been dominated out of tonight’s top-of-the-table URC assembly with the Bulls on the RDS.
“They each picked minor sufficient niggles,” Cullen added.
“You’re making an evaluation this week whether or not you push guys on or not. They need to be okay, hopefully. We are going to see over the weekend.
“Equally, Ciarán Frawley picked up one thing fairly minor over the weekend. Hugo (Keenan) has clearly been managing one thing. James (Ryan) is the one that’s in all probability a bit extra vital, so he can be out for just a little bit.”
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