Tonga international Sione Vailanu to join Worcester Warriors

Tonga international Sione Vailanu will make a switch to Gallagher Premiership club Worcester Warriors ahead of the 2021/22 season.

Having started his career with Samurai RFC in Hong Kong 10s, Vailanu made his senior club debut for Saracens in 2018 and later went on to join Wasps ahead of the 2019/20 season and has played 25 Premiership games for the two clubs combined. He has also played seven Tests for Tonga between 2017 and 2019.

The 26-year-old will now join the Warriors in the summer after signing a two-year contract.

"I’m extremely excited to have signed for Warriors and am looking forward to joining up with the club ahead of next season," Vailanu said in a statement released by the club.

"I know that Alan Solomons and JT have ambitions for Warriors to become a sustainable top six Premiership club and I am looking forward to helping them achieve their objectives."

Worcester Warriors director of rugby Alan Solomons is confident that Vailanu's addition will further bolster the squad.

"We are really pleased to have Sione join us here at Sixways," he said.

"He is an experienced, powerful, ball-carrying number eight who will add huge value to the team.

"He is also a very likeable character who we all look forward to welcoming to the club and working with."

Vailanu's signing follows after the Warriors had already confirmed the additions of Jack Owlett, Duhan van der Merwe, Willi Heinz, Scott Baldwin, Will Chudley and Christian Judge for the next season.

Worcester Warriors are currently languishing at the bottom of the Gallagher Premiership table after managing just three wins from 17 matches. They will take on defending champions Exeter Chiefs next on 8th May.