Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The LA Giltinis have another brother duo for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. Super Rugby prop twins Ruan and Jean-Pierre (JP) Smith will join from the Queensland Reds, following previously announced Harry and Sean McNulty.
Originally from South Africa, the 30-year-olds emigrated to Australia in 2010 and have played much of their professional rugby in their adopted home. Playing on opposite sides of the scrum – JP the loosehead and Ruan the tighthead – they have often featured for the same team.
Ruan was the first to reach the Super Rugby ranks with the Western Force in 2012. He would go on to play four seasons with the Brumbies before switching to the Reds in 2018, with a brief stop with the Rebels earlier this year. Ruan also played three seasons in the Japan Top League for Toyota Verblitz.
The Brumbies called for JP in 2014, but after two seasons he moved back to South Africa to play for Western Province and the Stormers. He followed Ruan to the Reds in 2018 where he has featured heavily since. Most recently JP played in five matches during the Super Rugby Australia competition.
LA have now secured their first choice bookends with Colorado departure Blake Rogers and local club signing Mafi Seanoa offering alternatives on the loosehead side. Further reinforcements at tighthead are still to be unveiled.
