Scarlets secure signing of All Black Vaea Fifita
Vaea Fifita has played 11 Tests for New Zealand
©Steve Haag
Scarlets have announced the signing of All Black Vaea Fifita ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Fifita will join the Welsh regional club in the summer from Gallagher Premiership club Wasps.
“My family and I cannot wait to be a part of the West Wales community. I will be working hard to achieve the ambitious goals that the club has set for the future," he told the club's official website.
“I have confidence that this group can bring pride and success to the people of the region. I look forward to meeting you all for the first time at Parc y Scarlets.”
The 29-year-old made his professional rugby debut with provincial side Wellington in 2013 with his Super Rugby debut for Hurricanes coming in 2015. Having enjoyed a Super Rugby title with the club in 2016, Fifita was rewarded with an international debut with New Zealand in June 2017 and has gone on to play 11 Tests with his last appearance coming in July 2019.
“We have signed a world-class player in Vaea and this is a real statement of our intent and ambition as a club. Vaea is a superb athlete, an X-factor player with the all-round skill-set that fits with how we are looking to play at the Scarlets," said Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel.
“He also brings a lot of experience at international and Super Rugby level and as well as adding Test-match quality to our pool of second rows, that experience will be invaluable to the young forwards that are coming through at the club.
“Vaea is the kind of player that gets fans out of their seats and it’s hugely exciting that he will be pulling on the Scarlets jersey next season. I am sure Scarlets fans will enjoy watching him and we can’t wait to welcome him to Parc y Scarlets in the summer.”
