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Wasps make 'massive coup' to sign former All Black centre Fekitoa

Malakai Fekitoa. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Wasps have confirmed that New Zealand centre Malakai Fekitoa will join from French giants Toulon in the summer.

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After two seasons in France, the All Black World Cup winner will make the switch to Ricoh Arena where he will link up with former international and club teammate Lima Sopoaga.

Fekitoa, who can play at 12 or 13, has bagged eight international tries in 24 appearances for the All Blacks, including two tries at the 2015 Rugby World Cup as he was part of the side which won back-to-back titles for the first time ever.

Alongside Sopoaga, the 26-year-old already has a wealth of experience on his shoulders after four seasons with the Highlanders, where he helped them to a first ever Super Rugby title in 2015 before a semi-final appearance in 2016.

During his time in Dunedin, Fekitoa racked up 20 tries in 65 Super Rugby appearances while he also represented Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Since his switch to France in 2017, the Tongan-born back has played 25 times, crossing the chalk on eight occasions.

Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “Malakai is a world-class player with bags of talent.

“He’s a proven player at the top level and to bring someone of his calibre to Wasps is a massive coup for the Club.

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“We’re very much looking forward to welcoming him to the Ricoh in the summer where he will no doubt bring vital experience and know-how which will be of great benefit to some of our younger players.”

Fekitoa said: “I am very excited to make the move to the Ricoh Arena next season.

“Wasps are a team that play an exciting brand of rugby and are very ambitious. Hopefully I can help them push forward and achieve silverware in the next few years.”

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H
Head high tackle 2 hours ago
Does the next Wallabies coach have to be an Australian?

Correct..... Aussie coaches have been far worse for the Wallabies than NZ coaches have. Playing the "Aussie" way seems to be playing like a 3rd tier team. Its every Wallabies coaches fault that the systems are broken and the administrators are broke as it is of course the HEAD COACH who sets those things. Why isnt the coaching staff getting better TV deals? Why arnt they bringing in more Sponsors? Why are the HEAD COACHES allowing the NRL to sign all the junior talent? Why arnt the HEAD COACHES doing better marketing so we actually know when games are on? Why why why!!!

All these head coaches fault eh!

You almost seem to be an RA board member. It is always someone elses fault, always an easy fix just around the corner and always more money to be blackmailed/Begged from NZR. Always someone else who MUST solve RAs issues. Always another teams job to save Aus from their demise. Always NZR doing all the heavy lifting around SR. Always NZR who must change their policies to rescue RAs Super rugby sides. And the main one.....Its always EVERYBODY ELSES RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX.....Never RAs problem. Just put out a statement saying the Wallabies will win the WC in 2027, win a Bledisloe cup every two years and will be world no 1 by 2029. That will solve everything eh!

You, and many like you, are the exact problem with Australian rugby. Your entitlement to success without the right building blocks, is destroying Aus rugby.

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