Harlequins have signed Fiji winger Vereniki Goneva from Newcastle Falcons, the club announced Wednesday.
Goneva, 35, has made 55 international caps and scored 20 tries for Fiji, and comes as a replacement for retired winger Tim Visser.
🚨 NEW SIGNING ALARM! 🚨
👀 Watch @_gabs11 as he finds out who is coming to The Stoop.#COYQ pic.twitter.com/7xN95fWh22
— Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) July 3, 2019
“It’s a real coup for us,” Harlequins head of rugby Paul Gustard said in a statement. “With Tim’s retirement at the end of last season we have been looking to bring in quality to supplement our very exciting young wingers in Gabs and Cadan, and there is no doubt Niki is real quality.
“Pundits and media alike have commented on his age consistently over the last few years but it is of no concern to me for I have seen one of his passports and it said he was only 28 so we are happy.”
Goneva is the second winger to join Harlequins this week, alongside Springbok Travis Ismaiel.
“They were the first club that I had a jersey for as my Dad bought me one when I was very little because it is his favourite team, and so I have always had an affinity for them,” Goneva said. “I have always admired as one of the big English clubs.”
The prolific winger has previously played for both Leicester Tigers and Newcastle Falcons, averaging a try every other match across his appearances for both clubs.
Goneva leaves the Falcons following their relegation from the Premiership last season with flanker Mark Wilson also departing for Sale Sharks on Tuesday.