Connacht sign Tongan powerhouse Leva Fifita

Adam Kyriacou

Connacht have announced the signing of powerful Tongan international second-row Leva Fifita, bolstering their options in the forward pack.

Fifita joins from French side Grenoble where he has made 65 appearances in four seasons with the club, having previously represented New Zealand side Waikato in the Mitre 10 Cup.

The 31-year-old has earned 19 caps for the Tonga national team and started in all four games in the country’s 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign.

The move also sees Fifita reunited with incoming Connacht forwards coach Dewald Senekal, who served as his head coach at the French club for two seasons.

Make sure to sign up to Planet Rugby’s newsletter by clicking here

“In Leva Fifita we have been able to identify all the attributes we were looking for in a new lock,” said Connacht head coach Andy Friend.

“He is a tall, strong athlete who will complement our existing second-rowers, and also brings with him a good deal of experience at club and international level. We’re really pleased he has decided to join us and I know he will fit in nicely with the squad.”

Fifita says he’s looking forward to joining the province, adding: “I’m very excited to be joining Connacht Rugby. I know Dewald very well from my time in Grenoble and after chatting to Andy Friend I believe this is the right step to make in my career. I’m looking forward to moving to the West of Ireland and play my part in helping the team succeed into the future.”