Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Top 14 giants sign 147kg 16-year-old from Australia

Visesio Kite/ Photo by James Kite

Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle have looked to the future by signing teenager Visesio Kite to their academy, according to various reports.

ADVERTISEMENT

Australian outlet The Roar reported this week that the 16-year-old Australia U16 and Queensland representative had been cleared to make the move to join the two-time Investec Champions Cup winners, with BallCarrier Rugby reporting on Tuesday that he had secured the move.

This came after Kite’s father James wrote on Facebook: “It’s done son. You can chase your dreams now. Miss you my boy…… the clearance has arrived.”

While the transfer is yet to be confirmed by La Rochelle, he has already been added to the Ligue Nationale Rugby’s website.

Fixture
Top 14
Stade Rochelais
12 - 12
Full-time
Castres
All Stats and Data

Standing at 2.04 metres and weighing 147kg, the plan appears to fashion Kite into a second-row despite currently being a tighthead prop. He would therefore be a natural replacement to compatriot Will Skelton in the engine room at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre.

This may be a move that the French national team have an eye on as well, as he may have been lined up as a potential French international should he stay in the country for five years to earn his residency.

France already boast a handful of players Kite’s size, including Emmanuel Meafou and Posolo Tuilagi in the second-row.

ADVERTISEMENT

O’Gara’s La Rochelle are currently languishing in ninth place in the Top 14 ladder, but host Munster in the Investec Champions Cup round of 16 next month.

Though Kite will likely be eyed as a lock on the west coast of France, the club are set to lose tighthead Georges-Henri Colombe at the end of the season, who will join league leaders and current Top 14 and European champions Toulouse. Winger Teddy Thomas will also join Colombe in making the move to the Stade Ernest Wallon next year.

Related

Download the RugbyPass app now!

News, stats, live rugby and more! Download the new RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!

ADVERTISEMENT

Kubota Spears vs Saitama Wild Knights | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

Perry Baker in the house | HSBC Life on Tour | Los Angeles

O2 Inside Line: All In | Episode 6 | Le Crunch

The Unexpected Journey to USA 7s Glory | Aaron Cummings | Sevens Wonders

USA vs Japan | Full Match Replay

Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Tackling reasons for drop-out in sport | Zainab Alema | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

3 Comments
T
Teddy 67 days ago

Jesus, wept!!!


Wait until he turns 18 and starts sledging the pints!!!!


He'll be walking around at 160 kilos.

D
DJ 67 days ago

Why hasn’t he been picked up by the NFL or why doesn’t he try that first…?

f
fl 67 days ago

“France already boast a handful of players Kite’s size, including Emmanuel Meafou and Posolo Tuilagi in the second-row.”


Well, Kite is as tall as Meafou and about 10cm taller than Tuilagi, and he’s probably got another two years of growth in him, so he’s probably good for another inch at least.


He’s listed as being around the same weight as Meafou and Tuilagi. Personally I find that hard to believe. He doesn’t look that big in pictures, but I guess he could have gained weight recently (presumably he’s gaining a lot of weight, very rapidly, all the time). But if he is that big, surely he’ll continue growing? No one is fully bulked out at 16.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Many Lions might have opted for the safe route - not Maro Itoje' Mick Cleary: 'Many Lions might have opted for the safe route - not Maro Itoje'
Search