HAWAIIAN TIGHTHEAD PROP Roman Salanoa is set to switch from Leinster to Munster ahead of next season.
The powerful 22-year-old made his first three senior appearances for Leinster this season but The42 understands that he will continue his development with Munster from the 2020/21 campaign onwards.
It’s believed that Leinster are frustrated with the IRFU over the circumstances of the switch, with Salanoa initially having looked set to stay with the eastern province after rebuffing a possible move to Connacht.
Leinster had been keen to hold onto Salanoa, who weighs in at close to 125kg and possesses major strength and power.
He initially considered a switch to Connacht, with the IRFU believed to have favoured that possible move. Salanoa opted against moving west and Leinster understood he would be remaining with them into next season.
However, that situation changed in recent weeks and Salanoa is now set to move to Limerick next season to join Munster, with the IRFU understood to have strongly encouraged the Hawaii native to make the move.
Leinster are thought to be frustrated at losing a player they have worked to develop since his arrival in Ireland, particularly given that it appeared Salanoa would be remaining with them after the Connacht discussions ended.
Leinster have lost of a number of players to other provinces in recent seasons. Joey Carbery’s transfer to Munster caused huge frustration, with Leinster angered by the IRFU’s involvement.
Former USA U20 international Salanoa, who has Samoan ancestry, hails from the Hawaiian island of Oahu and previously excelled in American football at high school level, earning an All-State selection.
He took up rugby in his final year of school and swiftly earned a USA U20 call-up in 2016 despite still being just 18.
Salanoa secured a week-long trial with Leinster later that year and then returned to join the province’s sub-academy for the 2017/18 season, while linking up with club side Old Belvedere.
The 6ft prop has made promising progress ever since and, having advanced into the full academy, earned his senior Leinster debut off the bench against Ulster in the Pro14 last December, as well as further replacement appearances against Connacht and Cheetahs before the season was suspended.
Despite his USA U20 caps, Salanoa could be eligible to play for Ireland from this summer, when he will have completed three years of residency. He arrived in Ireland before the change to five-year residency came into effect.
In Munster, Salanoa will add to the depth behind senior tightheads John Ryan and Stephen Archer.
Academy tighthead Keynan Knox, a 21-year-old South African who qualifies for Ireland later this year, has already made his senior Munster debut and is highly-rated within the province.
It’s unclear whether tightheads Brian Scott and Ciaran Parker will remain with Munster into next season.
Salanoa will eagerly learn from Munster forwards coach Graham Rowntree, who is regarded as a scrum expert.
As for Leinster, Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong and Andrew Porter remain their frontline tightheads, with Michael Bent an important squad player.
24-year-old Vakh Abdaladze and 21-year-old academy prop Jack Aungier both got senior playing minutes this season too, while Ireland U20 tighthead Tom Clarkson is another highly-rated prospect in Leinster’s academy.
Amazing come around after the low of the georgia/Serbia slip up. Let’s do this Ireland.
@Paddy Norton: hoofball. Jesus we are painful to watch
@David Mc Nally: good result lads.. away from home.. a brilliant result. I hope the fans on Tuesday have more belief the you guys. #hardtobeat
@David Mc Nally: if ye wanted a game of football tonight we be out by now
@Irishoverseas: painful to watch but good result.
@Paddy Norton: We’ve been rubbish at home. I’m sure Denmark will have noticed that. So we need to go for it. We gave Belgium too much respct in France and got slaughtered, but we went for Sweden, Italy and France and did well enough!
As expected…. We’re allergic to passing and holding onto the ball
@Brian O’Loughlin:
It’s an awful display of hoof ball. Very ugly from both teams.
Hmmmmmm, really tough one to call, heart and head are colliding. Heart says us or a draw, the head says Denmark may have a little bit too much guile for us. Either way I don’t see us going home without something. By that, I mean a draw, a win or an away goal. If we do lose I see it being by the odd goal of three.
@Stephen Duggan: your heart won.
I don’t know… Denmark is probably one of the most unpredictable sides in Europe. They can play a bad game, or on par with SPAIN or Germany. Hopefully the first type tonight lol, come on Ireland :)
Christ this is painful
@Brian O’Loughlin: So say all of us Brian, stringing a few passes together and a small bit of composure seems always beyong Ireland, we always look like the away side even when at home
@Brian O’Loughlin: I though O’Neill said we were going for it. A Danish goal is coming. We all know this. I hope O’Neill and Co know it!
@Brian O’Loughlin: very painful. Has Murphy actually been in possession of the ball yet?
@Sloop John G: Arter and O’Dowda seem to be willing to pass it but when it goes back to Duffy, Clark or Randolph it’s hoooooofffff!
It’s all Denmark. This could be a long night
@Johnny Bravo: Not really, you should be in bed by 10ish.
O dowda to score a hat trick !!!!
I have a good feeling about tonight. However I have a fear that our home form might let us down in the end
Is Jeff Hendrick actually playing?? Has anyone seen him ?
@Harry Corry: You missed his delightful one two with Conor Salmon then??
@Harry Corry: he was babysitting Eriksen all evening
I’d take a win here.
@Robert O’Rourke: no shłt Sherlock
@Robert O’Rourke: Ya I would definitely be OK with a 4-0 Ireland win. Don’t want us to start getting ahead of ourselves with expectations.
@Robert O’Rourke: Why settle for a win?
Lump it in
Can someone please tell Eamonn that this is not a game for Wes
@Johnny Bravo: Johnny it actually is…
@Johnny Bravo: Not a full match, last 30 mins!
@Paul Furey: pitch is in rag order better to keep him fresh for the home game.
Another note good to the Irish lads taking a leaf out of previous opponents books by going to ground at every opportunity. It’s not pretty but it’s all part of the game now
@Johnny Bravo: Good call! And maybe it will shut Dunphy up :)
Hardly knew Hendrick was playing until he was substituted in injury time. On a separate note, twice George Hamilton said Ireland got a point at the end. Does he not know how a two legged playoff works?
Turgid stuff, just the way we like it
Can’t believe RTE still pay dunphy, because he says the same thing at every half time…. “we’re rubbish, we need to bring on hoolahan”. Hoolihihan this and hoolihan that. Does he really think a 35 year old is our saviour. Good bless him….
@Ardmore02: who can’t get a regular game for Norwich.
@Ardmore02: say what you want about dunphy, but you will miss him when he’s gone!
@stephen mc galey: trust me, no I won’t.
fact we were not supposed to get a play off after the Georgia game makes me think the lads will play with no fear . Same as Last time after we beat Germany and then we done the Bosnians with relative ease . Hopefully a score draw tonight and nick a win Tuesday .
Fingers crossed !
Fair enough we will sit back and defend but If we even tried to break at speed we might look like scoring
So its hang on the hope we get a lucky break
Can’t fecking wait!
That was hard to watch. Muck standard.
Ref is giving Murphy nothing
@Richard Sweeney: Ireland are giving Murphy nothing.
@☘️: that too
Apparently something nearly happened in the game tonight
Really targeting Christie and it’s hard to blame them.
COYBIG!!
the Danes dont fancy this match there a pretty nervous bunch, as long [no pun intended] as there no silly mistakes its all gravy,
Any negative comments have been deleted by the Journal
This is great stuff altogether….
38% possession, come on!
@Ben Coughlan: not going too bad, the Danish crowd are silent.
One word. Randalf.
Them pesky Vikings are on their way. We had no problem with them the last time they arrived! Hopefully they will be staying in Clontarf marina. Bring on the Shane Long’boat b4 our luck runs down the black river.
Ref doing well for the boys to be fair!
@Bill Liffin: ya fair play, kept his cards in his pocket. Stupid having bookings carry over from the group stage. 15 of the 22 starters were on a yellow tonight
Let it in
OLE OLE OLE OLE
We’re going to WC but probably won’t win it.
@Bluepoolroad: Guinness is good for you, probably…
Have to say not great to watch but we are on the front foot now for Tuesday it’s a question of do you want to watch Brazil style football and be at home like the Welsh wondering what if ie be 90 mins away from a major finals tournament. We’re never going to win the world cup but it’s great to at leat be I The final reckoning. We’re a small country yet keep punching above our weight. Time to get behind the boys in green.
We have this, they showed they’re no great if world football, they couldn’t score at home to us. 1- 0 in Dublin and Russia here we come
Bendtner wasn’t world class tonight :D We live to fight another day.
Good result. Would have gladly taken a draw before the game. Still all to play for in Dublin. COYBIG
send that leg to lourds, 1-0 to IRELAND
Awful shit to watch.More shit to come.Kill me now
Something wrong when a team with 2 central premiership midfielders can’t pass the ball ….
Good score.