Bristol lose Taumalolo

Bristol have announced that Tongan centre Josh Taumalolo will leave the club at the end of the current season.

Bristol have announced that Tongan centre Josh Taumalolo will leave the club at the end of the current season.

The 18-times capped Tongan is yet to find a new club but is believed to be heading to either France of Japan, the latter his preferred option. One of the main reasons he cites for leaving the club is to spend more time with his family, who remain in Tonga.

“I am planning to finish this year,” the 31-year-old told the club's website.

“I want to go abroad. I have played in Britain for a long, long time and I need to go for a change.

“I would love to stay at Bristol but my family is now more important to me. I hope we could be together in France or Japan.”

Taumalolo is the second player in as many weeks to leave the club, with New Zealand Maori second row Sean Hohneck joining Italian club Viadana at the end of the season.

Taumalolo, who impressed during the early-season matches in the last two campaigns, was snapped up from Neath in 2006 and has made 30 appearances for Bristol.

But Luke Arscott has made the full-back role his own this season and has restricted the Tongan to only four starts.

Taumalolo also prefers to play centre and knows his chances of winning the number twelve shirt at Bristol are slim.

“To be honest, I love it at Bristol. I really love it,” he added.

“The players, coaching staff and fans are good. It is OK at Bristol but I need to be with my family.

“We have some good centres at Bristol, including Neil Brew. I see myself as a centre but there's little chance I will play there.

“I hope I can go somewhere where I can play every week. I don't like not playing.”