Newcastle Falcons sign Opeti Fonua

Newcastle Falcons have completed the signing of Tonga and Leicester Tigers back-row forward Opeti Fonua.

Director of rugby Dean Richards saying: “Opeti is a big physical specimen who will cause a lot of trouble for defences.

“He strung together a good series of appearances for Leicester at the end of last season as well as featuring strongly for Tonga during their summer international programme, and he is already up here training with us."

Making his international debut in 2009, the back-row man played for Tonga during Rugby World Cup 2015 and was involved in this year’s June internationals, scoring in his last two tests against Georgia and Samoa.