Rugby:Cardiff Blues have signed 24-year-old Dubliner Robin Copeland from Rotherham Titans and Fijian international prop forward Campese Ma'afu ahead of the new season.
Standing 6'5" and weighing over 16 stone, the former St Mary’s College and Leinster academy prospect Copeland has been a revelation since joining the Titans from Plymouth last season. He has scored 11 tries in 20 games.
The Blues forwards’ coach Justin Burnell enthused: “A big thing for us as a region and a team is that we should be looking at a three year cycle of establishing a group of players that will be here to build for the future.”
“Robin is a big, physical boy with the ability to cross the gain-line but has the skills and finesse to put people in to finish via his decision making. He is twenty four years old and has been the outstanding player in the Championship this year.”
“We watched his games a few times, assessed his performances and then viewed him and met him. It’s important that the player has the right attitude and mind set to fit into the environment. We went through that process and he ticked all the boxes.”
“He might be and unknown quantity with the PRO12 but he will be a surprise package as well. He’s a blindside flanker and also covers second row, in a similar way to Andries Pretorius, who also came in as an unknown quantity. We will be looking for him to play alongside Andries and Michael Paterson and the battle hardened, experienced Xavier Rush.”
Ma’afu, born and raised in Australia to a Tongan father and a Fijian mother, has joined the Cardiff Blues from West Harbour Pirates in Sydney, Australia. The middle of three talented rugby brothers – older brother Salesi has represented Australia while younger brother Kuki has featured for Tonga at Sevens.
In 2010 the two brothers Salesi and Campese, squared off against each other in a test match between Australia and Fiji. Salesi played for the Wallabies at tight-head prop while his brother Campese played for Fiji at loose-head prop. Campese has gone on to win six caps for Fiji and featured against Wales in November 2010 when the match finished in a 16-16 draw.
