George Stowers signs with Makos [Nelson Mail]
The Tasman Makos' prospects for the 2013 ITM Cup were given a significant boost this week.
Tasman Rugby Union chief executive Andrew Flexman confirmed the signing of Samoan international No 8 George Stowers yesterday for the upcoming season.
The signing of Stowers was completed towards the end of last week and came about through a link Flexman has in the UK.
"A good mate of mine is an agent in the UK and we got George along the same lines to how we got Campbell Johnstone last season. It's proving a good little link to have."
Capped 23 times for Samoa and once for the Pacific Islanders, 34-year-old Stowers is with leading Welsh club Ospreys and previously turned out for London Irish.
Makos coaches Kieran Keane and Leon MacDonald were very happy to have the services of a player of Stowers' calibre and Flexman said the signing was positive news on two fronts.
"It is a pretty exciting signing.
"We feel he has the same kind of credentials and will bring the same value as Jordan Taufua did last year.
"[Stowers] is a strong, physical and abrasive ball-runner and will complement our other loose-forwards like Shane Christie and Liam Squire nicely.
"Also with the loss of Goody [former Makos captain Andrew Goodman], George offers substantial leadership qualities."
Stowers will be finished with Ospreys towards the end of this month and is expected to arrive in the Tasman region at the start of June.
The Makos are in negotiations with a couple of other players, but Flexman said nothing had been confirmed at this stage.
They still had around five spots open in the squad and he was hopeful of filling most of them with players from the Tasman area
