Samoa international Michael Alaalatoa to join Leinster ahead of 2021/22 season

Leinster have confirmed that Samoa international Michael Alaalatoa will join the Pro14 club ahead of the 2021/22 season.

“It is a huge honour to be given the opportunity to join Leinster Rugby," he told the club's official website.

“They have enjoyed a lot of success for a long time and have produced a lot of Irish internationals which speaks highly of their rugby programme and team culture.

“It is something that I am really excited about being a part of and I am looking forward to starting a new adventure in Dublin with my family.”

Alaalatoa will join Leinster after a five-season stint with Crusaders after playing 89 times for the club and in the process also enjoyed three Super Rugby titles and a Super Rugby Aotearoa triumph that came last year. He also has the experience of playing for Waratahs in the 2014 and 2015 seasons of Super Rugby.

The 29-year-old also had represented Samoa in five Tests with four out of it coming during the 2019 World Cup in Japan. He was also part of the Samoa Under 20 side that competed in the 2011 Junior World Championship.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen expressed excitement about the signing of Alaalatoa and said the experience of playing for Crusaders will benefit the club as they look to maintain their dominance after completing their fourth successive Pro14 title this season.

“We are very excited by Michael’s arrival in the coming months. He is a player with top quality Super Rugby and international experience, and he is hungry for further success and to play a part in building on the work that is already underway here.

“We have a group of younger props who will only benefit from his experience and we believe the wider group will also learn a lot from Michael and his rugby knowledge from playing with the Crusaders in particular."