Aki Seiuli: Samoa prop signs new Dragons contract
- Published
Samoa prop Aki Seiuli joined Dragons from Glasgow Warriors in 2021
Samoa prop Aki Seiuli has agreed a new contract to remain at Dragons RFC.
The loose-head, 30, has played 38 times for the Welsh region over the last two seasons.
Head coach Dai Flanagan said: "Aki is an experienced and durable figure in our front row and his commitment to the club is undoubted."
Flanagan also says Dragons hope to recruit an expert loose-head scrummager for the 2023-24 season.
"It's definitely an area we'd still be in the market for," said Flanagan.
"I think it's clear to see we need to bolster some areas and that would be an area, probably need a profile of a certain type of loose-head that will help us and we're actively searching to see what's out there for what we can afford.
"We've got good rugby-playing loose-heads and... if for instance we signed a scrummaging loose-head, we'd be able to help our tight-heads develop because they'd scrummage against them more in training."
Flanagan said of Seiuli: "He is a top professional, a great, positive character and someone who wants to help our club develop and to lead by example."
Seiuli is the 15th player to agree new terms ahead of next season, joining the likes of senior stars Ashton Hewitt, Jack Dixon, Ollie Griffiths, Elliot Dee, Joe Davies, Lloyd Fairbrother, Harri Keddie, Jared Rosser and Steff Hughes.
The front row had previously played for Otago and Highlanders before joining Glasgow Warriors in 2019, then moved to Rodney Parade in 2021.
Seiuli made his Samoa debut in 2022 as his country won the Pacific Nations Cup in Fiji.
"I'm really pleased to sign the new contract and continue my time here at Dragons RFC," said Seiuli.
"I'm looking forward to the progress we can continue to make under Dai and how our squad can evolve and grow."