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A second Suniula has signed a pro contract but it won’t be on US soil. Roland Suniula has penned a deal with Reggio of the Italian Eccellenza until the end of the season, heading off speculation that he would join brother Shalom at the Seattle Seawolves of Major League Rugby. A standout during the 2016 PRO Rugby season, the 30-year-old midfielder reunites with a familiar face in Ohio Aviators flanker Filippo Ferrarini. Argentine flyhalf Luciano Rodriguez is also at the club.
It’s the fourth European destination for the second of three brothers to play for the US Eagles, Andrew the oldest. Roland has previously lined up for three French clubs. Auch in the Pro D2, then a season at Vienne followed by Chalon both of Fédérale 1. He returned to the USA to play for the Aviators in the inaugural PRO season and has been in Columbus since as a coach with Tiger Rugby Academy.
Suniula won the last of his 17 caps for the Eagles against Canada in August of 2013. He made his international debut four years earlier against Ireland and represented his country at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Primarily an inside center, he also made a handful of appearances at flyhalf for the Eagles.
Reggio are currently winless in the new Eccellenza season though only three of the 18 regular season rounds have been played. Formerly the Super 10, the Eccellenza is the top professional division in Italy with traditional heavyweight Calvisano, Viadana, and Petrarca leading the way. Italy’s two Guinness Pro 14 sides, Benetton Treviso and Zebre, are largely composed of ‘graduates’ of the domestic competition with ‘permit’ players often selected to bolster their squads throughout the season.
