Naka in talks

GLEWIS STUART LASGOW Warriors have confirmed they have had talks with Leone Nakarawa, the Fiji international who left the club for Racing 92 three years ago, about a return but deny there is any commitment yet from the player.

“We’re definitely keen and we’re definitely interested. We’re just waiting for clarification on whether he wants to do that,” said Kenny Murray, the assistant coach.

“Obviously there is interest at the club in getting him here.

“The club has gone down a process with him and there needs to be some kind of agreement if he wants to come.”

The reality is Glasgow are hoping that, after a fraught finish to his time in Paris with Racing that ended with him being sacked and accused by the club of a “deplorable” lapse in standards, the lure of friendship in a place he knows and likes will be more important to Nakarawa than money.

“The reality is that clubs in Europe – in England and France – have a lot of money, but he really enjoyed his time here,” Murray added.

“He moved for his own interests, because he was offered big money abroad, but he likes the people here and is really friendly with a lot of the guys.

“He has a really good relationship with Ryan Wilson. They speak every week and have done for a long time. Obviously we have Niko [Matawalu, a fellow Fijian] here and guys like Mesu [Dolokoto] – he has strong connections.

“I think he enjoyed the crowd and the city here, so I think he is maybe at a stage where he just needs somewhere to come back to so he can relax and get on with his rugby.”

It is not hard to see why Glasgow would be interested – though those are most of the same reasons that big-money clubs are probably also sniffing around his signature on a contract with Nakarawa.

“He brings a bit of x-factor,” Murray explained.

“He’s been one of the best ball-carrying, offloading forwards in European rugby over the past few years. That part of his game is up there with the very best.