Wasps have announced the signing of former New Zealand international Malakai Fekitoa from French club Toulon.
Centre Fekitoa represented the All Blacks 24 times after making his debut in 2014, scoring two tries at the 2015 Rugby World Cup as New Zealand became the first country to retain the title.
Fekitoa, 26, then moved to the Top 14 in 2017 where he has since played 25 times for Toulon.
“Malakai is a world-class player with bags of talent,” Wasps director of rugby Dai Young said. “He’s a proven player at the top level and to bring someone of his calibre to Wasps is a massive coup for the club.”
🇳🇿 Wasps are delighted to confirm the signing of highly-rated @AllBlacks centre @MalakaiFekitoa!
Read more about the World Cup winner at https://t.co/s5EXBujcqx pic.twitter.com/bLK8y0iAk3
— Wasps Rugby (@WaspsRugby) January 16, 2019
Fekitoa said he was “very excited” to make the switch to the Premiership at the end of the season.
“Wasps are a team that play an exciting brand of rugby and are very ambitious,” he said. “Hopefully I can help them push forward and achieve silverware in the next few years.”
For Wasps, the signing of Fekitoa softens the blow of losing both Willie Le Roux and Nathan Hughes.
The club announced on Tuesday that England international Hughes had signed for Premiership rivals Bristol while South African Le Roux is also set to leave at the end of the season.