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Leinster face competition from Top 14 to sign Taniela Tupou - report
By Josh Raisey
Australia tighthead prop Taniela Tupou has been approached by Top 14 outfit Montpellier, according to French outlet Midi Olympique.
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The 2022 Top 14 champions have joined Leinster in their pursuit of the 50-cap international, after reports emerged last week from Australia that the Irish giants are interested in replacing Michael Ala’alatoa with Tupou.
With Tupou’s current club, the Melbourne Rebels, facing an uncertain future beyond this current Super Rugby Pacific season, European clubs look poised to pounce on the opportunity to offer him a deal at the end of the season. This is despite the 27-year-old being contracted to Rugby Australia until 2025, the same year the Wallabies are set to face the British & Irish Lions.
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Montpellier appear to be assembling a formidable pack ahead of next season with France tighthead Mohamed Haouas linked with a return, and with the announcement of England No8 Billy Vunipola’s arrival expected imminently. That is to add to a pack that is not exactly lacking for size at the moment, with the likes of France lock Paul Willemse and former England tighthead Harry Williams on their books.
Despite this recruitment drive ahead of next season, Montpellier’s priority will be to survive this current campaign in the Top 14, where they sit second from bottom following a 54-7 loss to Toulon on Saturday. As it stands, they will have to face the play-off winner in the ProD2 (the league below) in order to remain in the league.
Things are not going much better for Tupou in Melbourne, where he has not made the impact he would have wanted after signing from the Reds for this new season. He started on the bench in the 54-28 loss to the Hurricanes on Friday after failing to even make it to half time the week before against his former side.
this seems like a real shame for ireland, given the need to develop new props.