Edinburgh sign Ben Atiga from the Highlanders

http://www.edinburghrugby.org/news/edinburgh-news/4163-edinburgh-secure-all-black-back

Another big signing for Edinburgh, with Centre/Full-back Ben Atiga signing for 2 years from the Highlanders.

Well I know absolutely nothing about this guy - can Super 15 fans fill me in??

Fairly decent CV though, but hasn't played much recently by the look of things.

Not the 2nd row or winger we're desperate for though but he looks a decent guy to have in the squad....

Wow! Didnt expect that. I'm afraid I don't know anything about him but his creds speak for themselves. V exciting and only 28. Centre and full back eh.

Is this good for Scotland? This is the 5th non Scots qualified signing for next season. Not sure that with just 2 sides this is a bit of overkill.

He should have come to Europe a long time ago. Good signing imo hes a talented player, could be like a Nacewa signing for you guys.

Ben Atinga: Handy youth player (IRB young player of the year in 2001 or 2002), made the ABs as an injury replacement in the 2003 RWC (when Mitchell was too £$%^@ stubborn to call up Mehrtens), got 1 test vs Tonga. He retired to go into business in 2007, re-signed with Auckland and the Blues in 2010 and was called up by as an injury replacement by the Highlanders last year and stayed in Otago for INL cup. Didn't get an SXV contract this year, I understand he got married in Jan and has been running a bar & restaurant. Last I heard he'd bulked up a lot and become a bosh-merchant centre

I may be wrong but I thought it was only the two Cardiff chaps and the big Georgian who weren't Scots qualified. Nel will be (may already be) and Tonks is.

Nel is in the Springbok squad so may end up with a cap. Been playing very well this year apparently!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Nel is in the Springbok squad so may end up with a cap. Been playing very well this year apparently!

RDW, it's just a provisional Springbok training squad at the moment, and doesn't involve all the South African teams, being drawn only from those that didn't play last weekend. Plus I'm not at all sure that we've had his Scottish ancestry confirmed yet

Kiwireddevil wrote:when Mitchell was too £$%^@ stubborn to call up Mehrtens

More like Cullen!

Re Atiga - sound club/provincial player back in his day

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Nel is in the Springbok squad so may end up with a cap. Been playing very well this year apparently!

RDW, it's just a provisional Springbok training squad at the moment, and doesn't involve all the South African teams, being drawn only from those that didn't play last weekend. Plus I'm not at all sure that we've had his Scottish ancestry confirmed yet

He definitely doesn't have a Scottish relative, but at 26 years old residency is always an option. Although the guy is a free state South African through and through - might not not want to play for Scotland! Saying that if he's 29 and still uncapped he might be tempted to play for Scotland to get some International recognition.

I have to say, out of all of Edinburgh's signings WP Nel is most definitely the player I am most looking forward to!

Check out his youtube video if you haven't watched it - incredible stuff!

I assume this guy is coming in to add depth at 12, which is a position in which Edinburgh aren't that strong. Scott and Houston are two specialists, and I guess Leonard can cover there as well.

I'm not overwhelmed by the signing, but I suspect he won't cost much, and if it stops Edinburgh getting walloped by 50 odd points every now and then in the league then I'm all for it.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Nel is in the Springbok squad so may end up with a cap. Been playing very well this year apparently!

RDW, it's just a provisional Springbok training squad at the moment, and doesn't involve all the South African teams, being drawn only from those that didn't play last weekend. Plus I'm not at all sure that we've had his Scottish ancestry confirmed yet

He definitely doesn't have a Scottish relative, but at 26 years old residency is always an option. Although the guy is a free state South African through and through - might not not want to play for Scotland! Saying that if he's 29 and still uncapped he might be tempted to play for Scotland to get some International recognition.

I have to say, out of all of Edinburgh's signings WP Nel is most definitely the player I am most looking forward to!

Check out his youtube video if you haven't watched it - incredible stuff!

I agree, he is Edinburgh's marquee signing, but what will it do for Geoff Cross? Has to be a concern

RDW I'd be more excited if he was going to play for the Scots one day

Been thinking about the Edinburgh team when the Internationalists are away, looks a lot better than what we ended up with this season!

1 - Yapp
2 - Kelly
3 - WP Nel
4 - A N other
5 - Cox
6 - Basilaia
7 - Grant
8 - Talei
9 - Leck
10 - Leonard
11 - Tom Brown
12 - Tonks
13 - Atiga
14 - A N other
15 - JT

Subs: Traynor, Lawrie, Gilding (Boke), Steve Turnbull, McInally, Richie Rees, Gordy Hunter, AN other

So a pretty good team - although only 5 Scots in the starting XV and 6 on the bench.

I think it has significantly highlighted our lack of resources at 2nd row and on the wing too!

chewed_mintie wrote:

Kiwireddevil wrote:when Mitchell was too £$%^@ stubborn to call up Mehrtens

More like Cullen!

Re Atiga - sound club/provincial player back in his day

We were playing MacDonald at centre because Carter was injured and Mitchell didn't trust Spencer's goalkicking or Tana's fitness. Cullen would have been nice (and certainly better than Atiga), but Mils was doing an OK job.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
I agree, he is Edinburgh's marquee signing, but what will it do for Geoff Cross? Has to be a concern

I'm not too concerned - tightheads can't play every week, especially since Cross will be with Scotland a lot.

Plus when you consider that this season there has been Cross and no one else, I'm pretty happy to throw in another International class tighthead in there!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Been thinking about the Edinburgh team when the Internationalists are away, looks a lot better than what we ended up with this season!

1 - Yapp
2 - Kelly
3 - WP Nel
4 - A N other
5 - Cox
6 - Basilaia
7 - Grant
8 - Talei
9 - Leck
10 - Leonard
11 - Tom Brown
12 - Tonks
13 - Atiga
14 - A N other
15 - JT

Subs: Traynor, Lawrie, Gilding (Boke), Steve Turnbull, McInally, Richie Rees, Gordy Hunter, AN other

So a pretty good team - although only 5 Scots in the starting XV and 6 on the bench.

I think it has significantly highlighted our lack of resources at 2nd row and on the wing too!

Cairns could play on the wing next season. Dougie Fife or John Houston taking the other bench slot. The other option is grabbing Fleming from the sevens circuit. I think it's his time to start playing pro rugby.

Second row is the real problem, we're two players short there. Still annoyed that Schofield has gone to Worcester.

Totally forgot about Cairnsy! He'll be like a new signing for Edinburgh when he does come back.

I'd start a fit an on form Cairnsy at 13 over most other Scottish players.

He ain't a winger though...

If your getting a NSQ player it may as well be the best NSQ player you can get.

I think this is the way for all Districts/Provinces/Regions/Superclubs to improve.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Been thinking about the Edinburgh team when the Internationalists are away, looks a lot better than what we ended up with this season!

1 - Yapp
2 - Kelly
3 - WP Nel
4 - A N other
5 - Cox
6 - Basilaia
7 - Grant
8 - Talei
9 - Leck
10 - Leonard
11 - Tom Brown
12 - Tonks
13 - Atiga
14 - A N other
15 - JT

Subs: Traynor, Lawrie, Gilding (Boke), Steve Turnbull, McInally, Richie Rees, Gordy Hunter, AN other

So a pretty good team - although only 5 Scots in the starting XV and 6 on the bench.

I think it has significantly highlighted our lack of resources at 2nd row and on the wing too!

Cairns could play on the wing next season. Dougie Fife or John Houston taking the other bench slot. The other option is grabbing Fleming from the sevens circuit. I think it's his time to start playing pro rugby.

Second row is the real problem, we're two players short there. Still annoyed that Schofield has gone to Worcester.

Is Schofield to Wuss confirmed now, fES? Also I would expect to see young Jamie Farndale from Accies and the U20s get a chance next year at one of the pro-districts

Belay my question above, fES, just seen the confirmation here: Schofield - an all-round excellent site about transfers in rugby

Wasnt he at the blues previously? a few years back i thought he was on the all black radar or at least was approaching it but havent heard of him and i didnt realise he was at the highlanders. Could be a very useful signing

doctornickolas wrote:Is this good for Scotland? This is the 5th non Scots qualified signing for next season. Not sure that with just 2 sides this is a bit of overkill.

Recent signings by Edinburgh and Glasgow could prove disastrous for the national team. I don't think it's necessarily the best idea to treat Edinburgh and Glasgow as feeder teams for the national squad but until we are producing world-class players in every position who will get regular game time at English and French clubs, I think the emphasis should be on producing better, home-grown players whilst we only have two teams. I could understand if they had signed a couple of marquee players who will get bums on seats at Murrayfield and Scotstoun but Atiga, Ma'afu, MacDonald, Swinson et al don't really fall into that category.

Some of them will undoubtedly prove to be good signings but I think the money could be better spent improving domestic youth development. It's a bit incredible that Mark Bennett wasn't kept in Scotland last year and now Edinburgh are signing a player who played for the All Blacks for all of five minutes against Tonga a decade ago.

Sorry to say this but I couldn't agree more with Cryptoyourisan here. Unless we are buying real quality, by this I don't mean players that were good 10 years ago or have been picking up a pension in Japan (no offence) but quality signings like the Irish provinces. I know they have allot of experience and may help to bring on the youngsters but I think there are too many now. Out of the list of players NSQ brought into the 2 regions the only one that looks in that category is WP Nel (and is the only one I could see going to the big 3 Irish teams).

We have to remember we only have the 2 regions and looking at the Edinburgh team posted above without the internationals looks very worrying from a Scottish perspective. I mean even McInally who has had a good season is benched and there are 9 players out of the 22 that have come through the system. With another 1 or 2 that are SQ.

Standulstermen wrote:Wasnt he at the blues previously? a few years back i thought he was on the all black radar or at least was approaching it but havent heard of him and i didnt realise he was at the highlanders. Could be a very useful signing

Started at the Blues and returned to them for a season after his 4 year retirement before being picked up from the injury reserve pool by the Highlanders. However, he's not currently ranked in the top 20-odd NZ-based midfield backs (as he isn't playing in Super XV this year)

I sense you're not overly enthusiastic about this guy Kiwireddevil!

Edinburgh has a small squad. Their internationals cannot play too much rugby. With the Pro12, HEC and international rugby, resources will be stretched as always. So those non Scottish players are needed in the short to medium term if Edinburgh is to grow.

Looking in from the outside, I think the best thing Scottish rugby could do is concentrate on building up the regions so they'll attract more fans, success and money. It will give rugby a boost in Scotland.

Cryptoyourisan wrote:

doctornickolas wrote:Is this good for Scotland? This is the 5th non Scots qualified signing for next season. Not sure that with just 2 sides this is a bit of overkill.

Recent signings by Edinburgh and Glasgow could prove disastrous for the national team. I don't think it's necessarily the best idea to treat Edinburgh and Glasgow as feeder teams for the national squad but until we are producing world-class players in every position who will get regular game time at English and French clubs, I think the emphasis should be on producing better, home-grown players whilst we only have two teams. I could understand if they had signed a couple of marquee players who will get bums on seats at Murrayfield and Scotstoun but Atiga, Ma'afu, MacDonald, Swinson et al don't really fall into that category.

Some of them will undoubtedly prove to be good signings but I think the money could be better spent improving domestic youth development. It's a bit incredible that Mark Bennett wasn't kept in Scotland last year and now Edinburgh are signing a player who played for the All Blacks for all of five minutes against Tonga a decade ago.

I don't think "names" really matter as long as your team is winning. You're average prospective rugby punter isn't going to know many of the kiwi players except Carter or McCaw.

Signing of these players are short term quick fixes. The previous SRU high heid yins let players go last season that should have stayed. Fraser McKenzie for example. Edinburgh put out 6 (i think) U21s a couple of games back and got spanked by a backup Ulster team.

If you're wanting to get SQ players then they'll need to go in to the Aviva Championship or pick up Aviva Prem back up players. I'm sure if they were available and good they would have been signed up.

A fair few of the EDP players were put on to full contract this season so we'll probably see a fair few new young faces come in. If they're good they'll get a game. The Young twins from Jed really stood out at Melrose 7s, would be good to get them signed up. 18 or 19, 6'4, quick and have rugby brains. (Edit) They probably won't as they refused to go play for Melrose. Also similar to this was Melrose fullback Fraser Thomson was told he wasn't allowed to play for the club after an age grade representative game but did and his contract was revoked.

That's the thing we need to remember here - how many names can people think of that are up and coming young Scots who could do a similar job to the foreigners we've signed?

Tighthead prop - can't think of any
Loosehead - can't think of any
Backrow - can't think of any
Scrum half - Alex Black?
Centre - None in Scotland
Full back - Some decent guys in the under 20s, but they aren't physically mature enough yet from what I've seen, and can't tackle.

There are some decent young guys out there but they are no where near good enough yet to hold the fort when our Internationalists are away.

The catch 22 of course is how will these guys get better if they aren't playing....!

I don't think its an issue bringing in these guys to be the back ups during international periods / incase of injury

TJ wrote:I don't think its an issue bringing in these guys to be the back ups during international periods / incase of injury

That is one of the main reasons we're 2nd bottom in the Rabbo though...

RDW_Scotland wrote:That's the thing we need to remember here - how many names can people think of that are up and coming young Scots who could do a similar job to the foreigners we've signed?

Tighthead prop - can't think of any
Loosehead - can't think of any
Backrow - can't think of any
Scrum half - Alex Black?
Centre - None in Scotland
Full back - Some decent guys in the under 20s, but they aren't physically mature enough yet from what I've seen, and can't tackle.

There are some decent young guys out there but they are no where near good enough yet to hold the fort when our Internationalists are away.

The catch 22 of course is how will these guys get better if they aren't playing....!

If we are really in the position that we can't think of one player in any of those positions either from the club game or the underage teams then we are in a worse state than I thought

We don't have the strength in depth some posters on here think we do.

There are some good exiles out there (I'd have rather Shiells than Yapp, and Grove or Ansbro than Atiga), but in some positions we are struggling between the two pro sides, and whilst there are some really promising young players, losing players like MacKenzie and Bennett is a far bigger issue than many thought.

There are good club players that could step up but would a 22 year old give up a full time job to get a £7000 a year development contract from the SRU with no guarantee they will make it as a proffesional.

I'm coming round to it but giving money to London Scottish to help develop players might have to be the way forward. The jump from Prem One to pro rugby is just too great a step.

funnyExiledScot wrote:We don't have the strength in depth some posters on here think we do.

There are some good exiles out there (I'd have rather Shiells than Yapp, and Grove or Ansbro than Atiga), but in some positions we are struggling between the two pro sides, and whilst there are some really promising young players, losing players like MacKenzie and Bennett is a far bigger issue than many thought.

Hang on, I'm sure you said that Bennett was over-hyped and needed to play a few more games for Glasgow U13s to merit his recognition?!

Im really quite surprised to read this. I saw a lot of Ben Atiga hen he was about 16 or 17,playing for the AGS first xv,at that early age he had All black written all over him.sadly I cant recall seeing him play once in the last two years,and there is probably a good reason for that.

Players agents down here especially the likes of Craig Innes (Esportif International ) have said how much harder it is to get deals for players in Scotland and Ireland,because not only do they have to negotiate with the particular club involved but the contracts have to approved by the Irish and Scottish unions,who I understand only want to see possible "project" players or top of the line AB Internationals like Ben Afoa and Brad Thorn.

Only other explanation is that Atiga came real cheap,and then you got to wonder is he taking the place of a young Scottish prospect.

RDW_Scotland wrote:That's the thing we need to remember here - how many names can people think of that are up and coming young Scots who could do a similar job to the foreigners we've signed?

Tighthead prop - can't think of any
Loosehead - can't think of any
Backrow - can't think of any
Scrum half - Alex Black?
Centre - None in Scotland
Full back - Some decent guys in the under 20s, but they aren't physically mature enough yet from what I've seen, and can't tackle.

There are some decent young guys out there but they are no where near good enough yet to hold the fort when our Internationalists are away.

The catch 22 of course is how will these guys get better if they aren't playing....!

I'm really not convinced that having Yapp and Rees 'hold the fort' during an international window is a preferable option to giving game time to an up-and-coming, home-grown talent. In Yapp and Rees's case I suppose I would say that because I'm not convinced that they are good players in the first instance. In the invent of an injury crises to Cusiter (not unlikely), Blair (playing in France) and Lawson (who knows?), we could be Up the Suwannee at scrum half which is a position Scotland hasn't had to worry about in recent times. More's to the point, how is Scotland meant to bring in a new front row before the next RWC when we have Yapp, Cusack and Nel in the country?

Looks like he's going to be bit of a mentor for younger Scottish players in the squad, sounds good to me.

"The club were very interested in what I could bring to the table from a playing perspective but Michael [Bradley] also explained that he would be looking for me to play a leadership role and help bring on young Scottish players, a role which I've played with New Zealanders for the last couple of seasons and one which I'm looking forward to doing for Edinburgh Rugby." BBC

RDW_Scotland wrote:http://www.edinburghrugby.org/news/edinburgh-news/4163-edinburgh-secure-all-black-back

Another big signing for Edinburgh, with Centre/Full-back Ben Atiga signing for 2 years from the Highlanders.

Well I know absolutely nothing about this guy - can Super 15 fans fill me in??

Fairly decent CV though, but hasn't played much recently by the look of things.

Not the 2nd row or winger we're desperate for though but he looks a decent guy to have in the squad....

He doesn't play for the Highlanders mate. He didn't get a S15 contract. He plays for the Otago ITM cup club side

Cryptoyourisan wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:That's the thing we need to remember here - how many names can people think of that are up and coming young Scots who could do a similar job to the foreigners we've signed?

Tighthead prop - can't think of any
Loosehead - can't think of any
Backrow - can't think of any
Scrum half - Alex Black?
Centre - None in Scotland
Full back - Some decent guys in the under 20s, but they aren't physically mature enough yet from what I've seen, and can't tackle.

There are some decent young guys out there but they are no where near good enough yet to hold the fort when our Internationalists are away.

The catch 22 of course is how will these guys get better if they aren't playing....!

I'm really not convinced that having Yapp and Rees 'hold the fort' during an international window is a preferable option to giving game time to an up-and-coming, home-grown talent. In Yapp and Rees's case I suppose I would say that because I'm not convinced that they are good players in the first instance. In the invent of an injury crises to Cusiter (not unlikely), Blair (playing in France) and Lawson (who knows?), we could be Up the Suwannee at scrum half which is a position Scotland hasn't had to worry about in recent times. More's to the point, how is Scotland meant to bring in a new front row before the next RWC when we have Yapp, Cusack and Nel in the country?

Fortunately Glasgow have two excellent all Scottish front rows ( well Cusack will be soon enough)

Read in the papers this morning that Greig Tonks can play for Scotland, so isn't quite as bad as first thought!

Just a pity that Robinson seems averse to picking them

To be fair Low was out of form/injured but Welsh should have had a chance long before he did and why oh why Kalman ??

SGD prop wrote: why oh why Kalman ??

To be fair there was literally no one else, and he had just had a MOTM performance for Glasgow so I think most people were happy with him being picked!

That's good news about Tonks. Not a bad player at all.

Kalman was simply the beneficiary of mulitple injuries. He's third choice at Glasgow for tighthead in my view, and also behind Cross and Murray. Hopefully we won't have him in a Scotland jersey again.

cp10 wrote:

Cryptoyourisan wrote:

doctornickolas wrote:Is this good for Scotland? This is the 5th non Scots qualified signing for next season. Not sure that with just 2 sides this is a bit of overkill.

Recent signings by Edinburgh and Glasgow could prove disastrous for the national team. I don't think it's necessarily the best idea to treat Edinburgh and Glasgow as feeder teams for the national squad but until we are producing world-class players in every position who will get regular game time at English and French clubs, I think the emphasis should be on producing better, home-grown players whilst we only have two teams. I could understand if they had signed a couple of marquee players who will get bums on seats at Murrayfield and Scotstoun but Atiga, Ma'afu, MacDonald, Swinson et al don't really fall into that category.

Some of them will undoubtedly prove to be good signings but I think the money could be better spent improving domestic youth development. It's a bit incredible that Mark Bennett wasn't kept in Scotland last year and now Edinburgh are signing a player who played for the All Blacks for all of five minutes against Tonga a decade ago.

I don't think "names" really matter as long as your team is winning. You're average prospective rugby punter isn't going to know many of the kiwi players except Carter or McCaw.

Signing of these players are short term quick fixes. The previous SRU high heid yins let players go last season that should have stayed. Fraser McKenzie for example. Edinburgh put out 6 (i think) U21s a couple of games back and got spanked by a backup Ulster team.

If you're wanting to get SQ players then they'll need to go in to the Aviva Championship or pick up Aviva Prem back up players. I'm sure if they were available and good they would have been signed up.

A fair few of the EDP players were put on to full contract this season so we'll probably see a fair few new young faces come in. If they're good they'll get a game. The Young twins from Jed really stood out at Melrose 7s, would be good to get them signed up. 18 or 19, 6'4, quick and have rugby brains. (Edit) They probably won't as they refused to go play for Melrose. Also similar to this was Melrose fullback Fraser Thomson was told he wasn't allowed to play for the club after an age grade representative game but did and his contract was revoked.

cp, I've seen those two talked about with promise on a number of threads - just how good were they, and where have they been lurking?

And what position are they??

Threequarters, from memory, RDW, but I can't be more precise than that

Play there a they are 6ft 4??

RDW_Scotland wrote:Play there a they are 6ft 4??

Exactly. In fact, having checked out the Jed website, they are both back three players (wing/FB)

Not seen them play 15s but Gregor would have looked comfortable playing for Saracens. They ended up getting over powered by full time Pro's in the final. Including Nils Mordt, Joe Maddock, Tagicakibau, a couple of SQ qualified young players.

Melrose 7s is on BBC iPlayer. Not sure of the time but watch the QF, SF, and final near the end of the VT.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01gk45q/Rugby_The_Melrose_Sevens_14_04_2012/