Tonga international second row Leva Fifita has signed for Connacht.
The former Waikato lock has spent the past four seasons with Grenoble in France.
Fifita is the younger brother of former All Black, Vaea Fifita, and played at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan for Tonga.
The 31-year old replaces Quinn Roux, who leaves the province following the expiration of his contract.
Fifita will be reunited at Connacht with the province's new forwards coach, Dewald Senekal. The pair worked together for two seasons at Grenoble.
"I’m very excited to be joining Connacht Rugby," Fifita said, "I know Dewald very well from my time in Grenoble and after chatting to Andy Friend I believe this is the right step to make in my career.
"I’m looking forward to moving to the West of Ireland and play my part in helping the team succeed into the future.”
Friend added, "In Leva Fifita we have been able to identify all the attributes we were looking for in a new lock.
He is a tall, strong athlete who will complement our existing second rowers, and also brings with him a good deal of experience at club and international level.
"We’re really pleased he has decided to join us and I know he will fit in nicely with the squad”.
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