Adds depth, another option/prospect to work with, alongside the likes of Staveley, Laidlaw. The more bets you place, the more chance of getting a winner. Seems like a sensible strategy.

Wait, so he won't be blocking the path of a younger player like our similar signings?

To be fair you are right,you don’t produce any youngsters to have their paths blocked..

Weve given the chance to some young props, they weren't good enough, Laidaw and Gardiner played 30 games between them last year and don't look good enough as it stands.

We are different to Rovers, we don't have your quality, bet he plays double figures in games, I'd be suprised if Ruan plays 5 games.

He'll be another AJ Wallace or Greg Richards

Cas linked with Dan Okoro from Wire. Rovers signing Ruan and us linked with Salabio says everything about where the market for middles is at right now.

I would've been more tempted to keep our powder dry and try to recruit mid season

No that's not likely at all, we've already given opportunities to the younger players such as Gardiner and Laidlaw and they've shown they either aren't good enough or ready yet and Staveley is coming back from a serious injury. A lot of that could be down to the poor Coaches we've had and the lack of structure and both training and game time.

We are short in the middles so Salabio would help to add a little depth as that is what we are lacking in that dept, so no it wouldn't be blocking the path for younger players.

Thanks for the clarification

Think I would too, although still think we will have the cap space for another signing mid season

In an ideal world i think we would but don't think we can afford to wait to be honest. We only have four first choice props available as it stands with Herman, Aydin, Ashworth and Ligi.
Fash still doing rehab and as Dave K says Ashworth prone to injuries and Gardiner, Laidlaw not really good enough.
Sutton would have been ideal albeit a gamble given his injury record but seems the rumour about him was just that..