News: Saints confirm Tonga'uiha move to Racing Metro
By ComeOnYouSaints.com March 14 2013
Soane Tonga'uiha has ended speculation about his future by confirming his departure from Northampton Saints at the end of the 2012/13 season.
The 31-year-old loosehead prop will be leaving Franklin's Gardens after seven years' service and over 200 appearances in the black, green and gold. His career at the Saints includes a man-of-the-match performance in the successful 2010 LV= Cup Final, an Amlin Challenge Cup winners' medal, an appearance in the 2011 Heineken Cup Final and selection in several Aviva Premiership Rugby Dream Teams.
Tonga'uiha will be joining Top 14 outfit Racing Metro, and says that the move to Paris was not an easy decision to make.
"My seven years at Northampton have been very happy ones," he said. "I have been with the club through relegation to promotion to the Heineken Cup final and it is a journey that has made Saints a part of me.
"Northampton is a fantastic club, with excellent coaches, management, staff and facilities. I am surrounded by a great bunch of talented lads who I believe with the addition of incoming players (not to mention the huge talent within the Academy) will go on to win plenty of silverware.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have supported me during my seven years here. In particular, my family and I have been overwhelmed by the generosity, kindness and support we have been shown by the people of Northampton during my Testimonial year.
"This generosity has enabled me to donate £20,000 to charitable causes as well as to ship a 40ft container filled with donations to my old school, Vaini Primary in Tonga. This would not have been possible without the help of my dedicated testimonial committee led by Jon Evans and Darren Briers, and also the faithful fans of Northampton Saints.
"Finally, this is not a goodbye for the time being as there is still plenty to play for. Saints are back in the top four and this season is far from over. I hope to leave this club in a high and I still believe we have a team that can go all the way."
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder said that Franklin's Gardens will be a different place without Tonga'uiha in the Saints squad.
"Soane has been a big part of the squad throughout my time at the Saints," he said. "He has shown consistency and durability in one of the toughest positions on the field and will go down as one of the best props to play for the club, not least with 200-plus appearances under his belt.
"Soane is moving on as an individual and we will move on as a club, and now that the speculation regarding his future is over we can all put our focus on ending the season in style and getting into the Aviva Premiership play-offs.
"We wish Soane, Lucy and the rest of the Tonga'uiha family all the very best for the future."
News: Saints confirm Tonga'uiha move to Racing Metro
Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)
Date: 14/03/2013 09:49
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It is sad to a hero depart but Tiny has done a good shift for us and others will now have to carry his mantle. Let's enjoy him in the GB&G for as long as we can and then look forward to seeing him and Mooj in Racing's colours next season.
It looks like us and Racing paired in the HC then!
All the very best to you Tiny and when the time comes Bon Voyage to France. Thanks for everything you have done for the GB&G it's been a peasure to watch you.
Another name on the long list of Saints' front row legends. For my money, still the best loosehead prop in the Premiership.
You will be missed Tiny, the team we have today wouldn't be what it is without you. Good luck in France and thank you for everything you have done in the GB&G.
Tiny,
Thank you for reminding us in 2010 that there's something special going on at Northampton Saints.
You owe us nothing big fella. Bon Voyage.
"sup·port·er"
Noun:
1.A person who approves of and encourages someone or something (typically a public figure, a movement or party, or a policy).
2.A person who is actively interested in and wishes success for a particular sports team.
It strikes me that this announcement could be another sign of the realignment that Saints are trying to undertake. The club does not normally announce the departures of any player. I cannot remember the last time.
Thank you Sir, our family will miss seeing you in the green, black and gold but will cheer you on in France. The joy on your face when you burst through to score will be our abiding memory, all the best to you and your family.
He owes us nothing and as has been mentioned he will go down in front row folk law. I bet he's sad to be going, still, we have to grab every penny whilst we can. Good luck Tiny.
i share all the sentiments expressed above but can't help feeling a tinge of regret, in the sense that in the "old days" of amateur rugby and indeed probably of professional rugby until a few years ago, he would most likely have stayed on at FG until retirement and would have given us another 5 years or so of quality loosehead play. The transient nature of being a professional sportsman is inevitable for the players but a bit sad for clubs like ours.
tedge i share all the sentiments expressed above but can't help feeling a tinge of regret, in the sense that in the "old days" of amateur rugby and indeed probably of professional rugby until a few years ago, he would most likely have stayed on at FG until retirement and would have given us another 5 years or so of quality loosehead play. The transient nature of being a professional sportsman is inevitable for the players but a bit sad for clubs like ours.
In the rose tinted world of the 'good old days' wouldn't he have stayed with Bedford and not moved to the Saints in the first instance ?
RDS I think even in those days he might well have migrated from Bedford as it was an obvious step-up in quality. ChrisG not so sure - we have been recruiting players from overseas going right back to Buck Shelford and a lot of them stayed for a long time. However, I guess to have had him for nearly seven years has been exceptional.
Anyway 'tis a done deal, as you would say, so I join everybody else in wishing him well.
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