After 4 years away a familiar face is returning to Welford Road

Leicester Tigers will welcome back one of their former stalwarts for next season after four years away.

RugbyPass can reveal that Steve Mafi has agreed to return to Welford Road.

The 28-year-old made 85 appearances for the Tigers and played in two losing Aviva Premiership finals, before finally lifting the trophy in the 2012/13 season, when they beat Northampton Saints 37-17 to claim the club’s 10th English title.

An LV Cup winner in 2012 also, Mafi left the club in 2014 for family reasons to return to Australia. He played at Greater Sydney Rams and Super Rugby for Western Force.

After spent two seasons Down Under, he joined Top 14 side Castres. He signed a two-year deal with the French club, with an option of a third year, but instead he’s returning to England.

Mafi was part of a Castres side which thumped Leicester 39-0 in the Champions Cup in January, when he came off the bench.

Leicester are currently fifth the Premiership, two points ahead of seventh-placed Bath, with only the top six qualifying for the Champions Cup.

Mafi is the fourth forward recruited by head coach Matt O’Connor for next season – Scotland international flanker David Denton and second row Will Spencer join from Worcester Warriors, while backrow Guy Thompson will move from Wasps.

Mafi will hope the move to Leicester will help him secure his spot in Tonga’s team at next year’s World Cup. He failed to make the squad in 2011, but made three appearances in the 2015.  Mafi certainly has pedigree, his grandfather Sione Mafi Pahulu captained Tonga.