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Big Mc's arrived

Jenny Dixon
21/11/2007

AFTER a long wait and a gruelling journey from New Zealand, Sharks’ most anticipated new signing finally arrived at Edgeley Park last week.

All Black Luke McAlister was the last of Sharks’ summer signings to arrive after the World Cup, contractual reasons meaning he was unable to join the Stockport-based outfit any earlier.

“I’m excited to be here,” explained 24-year-old McAlister, who has 22 international caps.

“It’s been a long time coming, it’s been about five weeks since my last game of rugby.”

That match was a World Cup quarter-final against France, which saw favourites New Zealand drop out of the competition.

McAlister got to glimpse Sale favourite France back/second row Sebastien Chabal during that game, but it was not the time to be introduced to his future team-mates.

He admitted: “I only really met Jason White. It was pretty hard after the games, players go their own ways.

“I didn’t meet Chabal after the French game, I didn’t really want to speak to anyone. I wanted to get in the changing room pretty quickly!”

At the time of the press conference McAlister had yet to meet the whole of the Sharks team, but planned to accompany the side to Italy for their European Challenge Cup tie.

“I want to be part of the team as soon as I can,” McAlister added. “I’d rather get amongst them and get to know the boys.”

McAlister is not new to Greater Manchester, having lived in the area until the age of 12, when his father Charlie played rugby league for clubs including Oldham.

Did Charlie, who travelled over  with his son and will stay for three weeks, help with that decision?

No, says Charlie: “It wasn’t my advice at all. It’s his life, he’s a responsible young man. He makes his own decisions. Once he makes them I support him 110 per cent.”

Luke admits opting to move from New Zealand to Sharks, and rule himself out of international contention during that time, was a tough call.

“It was a huge decision that took five or six months to make.

“But it was time to move on and do something different. I wanted to play overseas and explore the world, this will give me the chance to do that.”

McAlister may have to get used to the difference between support for rugby union in north west England and New Zealand, where fans are passionate about the sport.

“They are pretty passionate about rugby over there,” said McAlister. “[Since the World Cup] things haven’t been too bad, I got the odd guy in the supermarket saying things but you take it on the chin and move on.”

LUKE McAlister signed for Sharks in July, but it was not until last Thursday that the Stockport-based side finally got to welcome the All Black star into the Edgeley Park fold. 

After months waiting for the international utility back, who can play at fly-half or centre, the club is keen to get their high profile signing out on the pitch as soon as possible.

Sharks chief executive James Jennings said: “It means a huge amount [to have Luke here]. We are just really looking forward to Luke starting training, getting himself ready to start playing and hopefully, within a matter of weeks, getting him out on the pitch.

“The sooner that happens the better.”

The big money acquisition of talented 24-year-old McAlister, on a two-year deal facilitated by sponsor Bluemantle, displays the ambition of Sharks to become a dominant force in the Premiership and Europe.

“It’s a statement of our intent,” added Jennings.

“We’ve got many international players with the club, some of the biggest names in world rugby already play here.

“But we obviously want to have the best side possible to ensure that we can beat teams not only in the Guinness Premiership, but also in the European competitions.”