Leinster confirm signing of former All Black Charlie Ngatai

Leinster have confirmed the signing of former All Black centre Charlie Ngatai from European Challenge Cup winners, Lyon.

The transfer had been flagged several month ago but now the Irish heavyweight have confirmed the arrival.

In the previous four seasons, the 31-year-old has appeared 88 times for Lyon in the TOP14, as well as the Heineken Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup.

Will Skelton on Champions Cup celebrations and playing for the Barbarians | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 38

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Will Skelton on Champions Cup celebrations and playing for the Barbarians | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 38

The big rig Will Skelton joins us from Monaco this week where he’s on tour with the Barbarians and rooming with George Kruis. He fills us in on the tour so far, hanging out at the palace with the Prince and who’s leading the charge off the pitch. We also hear about his man-of-the-match performance for La Rochelle in the Champions Cup Final, that famous open-top bus celebration and what it’s like playing for coaches like O’Gara and Cheika.

Ngatai recently excelled in Lyon’s 30-12 Challenge Cup final triumph over Toulon in Marseille, where he played against Leinster Rugby in the 2019/20 Heineken Champions Cup.

The Gisborne native made 12 appearances for the Maori All Blacks and was selected for New Zealand’s 2015 match against Samoa.

He’ll come in Dublin this summer and fully partake in pre-season training.

“I first came across Charlie back in 2014 when I visited the Chiefs late-on in my playing days and as I was preparing to make the transition into coaching,” said Leinster head coach Leo Cullne. “Even then, as a young man, you could see the influence he had on that Chiefs squad and that influence I think has only increased over the years with Lyon most recently.

“He’s a New Zealand international and I believe would have been capped far more only for his injury issues which were well-documented at the time but he has been back playing now a number of years and you could see even in the Challenge Cup final in Marseille just how influential a player he is.

“The important element for us I think when you look at some of the experience we are losing out of the environment this season with departures and retirements, is that Charlie will be an ever-present figure around UCD and will be a great asset to our younger players in terms of his leadership and experience.

“We look forward to welcoming Charlie and his young family to Dublin very soon.”

Speaking to leinsterrugby.ie, Ngatai said, “I’ve had a great few seasons in Lyon but I’m now excited to get started in a new environment, a new team culture and to take on new challenges.

“I’ve had a few good chats with Leo and it will be exciting to play alongside some new and also some familiar faces.”