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Lyon may have found a replacement for departing All Black centre Charlie Ngatai – who is heading to Irish provincial giants Leinster.
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According to reports from RMC Sport in France, LOU Rugby are offering Kyle Godwin a one-year contract to come and play his rugby in France.
Godwin won one cap for the Wallabies back in 2016 – against France – but hasn’t played for the national side since.
It won’t be Godwin’s first foray to Europe, the centre having spent two seasons with Connacht in the URC.
Godwin is currently playing for the Western Force in the inagural Super Rugby Pacific season, the same side the 29-year-old started his career with back in 2012.
Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Godwin was part of the Australia U20 team that competed in the 2012 IRB Junior World Championships in South Africa and went on to make over fifty appearances for the Force before Stephen Larkham lured him to the ACT in 2017.
The 6’2, 99kg Godwin will be filling the signficant void left by the departure of Ngatai.
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It’s speculated that Leinster are signing the former All Blacks centre as a depth addition that will give Leo Cullen’s side more firepower during international windows, not least given the Rugby World Cup in France is just 17 months away.
Despite boasting the likes of British & Irish Lions centre Robbie Henshaw and Ireland centre Garry Ringrose, Leinster are also set to lose the services of stalwart Rory O’Loughlin, who will join Gallagher Premiership side Exeter Chiefs next season.
While Ngatai was only capped once for the All Blacks, he was highly rated in New Zealand before he made the decision to up sticks to Europe in 2018.
Best of luck to both the player and club. He’s a solid toiler. Not a replacement for Ngatai though