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The LA Giltinis have reached ‘down under’ for another recruit. Arriving from the Melbourne Rebels for the 2021 Major League Rugby campaign is Angus Cottrell. The 31-year-old flanker brings eight years of Super Rugby experience to the expansion side.
Originally a rugby league player, Cottrell signed for the Western Force in 2012 and stayed with the team for five seasons before making the switch to Melbourne. He has been acting as vice-captain for the Rebels since 2019, leading the side several times in the absence of Dane Haylett-Petty.
Long considered one of the best flankers in Australia, Cottrell was rewarded with a call-up to the Wallabies touring squad in 2018 but did not ultimately play in a test. In 2019 he was selected for the Barbarians end-of-year tour and scored two tries in the win over Brazil.
Cottrell is known as a hard-nosed defender who is equally comfortable at blindside or openside flanker. He is the latest addition to the Giltinis back row stocks that also boast fellow Australians Corey Thomas and Christian Poidevin, Ireland Sevens standout Harry McNulty, and international No8 duo Adam Ashe and Langilangi Haupeakui.
