The 26-year-old has scored 13 tries in Super Rugby over the last two seasons, ending the 2013 campaign as the top try scorer in the competition after dotting down 10 times in 16 starts.
Halai made his All Blacks debut that same year, scoring against Japan, though he hasn’t featured under Steve Hansen since. The Tonga-born wing possesses remarkable power and pace, meaning he will add another major threat to Wasps’ backline next season.
Some might question Halai’s decision to leave his homeland at the age of 26 rather than continue to fight his way back into the New Zealand set-up, but this signing is an impressive coup for Wasps.
The club has made a so-far successful move to Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, and having achieved qualification into the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup – their first knock-out game in Europe’s top competition since 2007 – Wasps are already progressing this season.
Halai scored a try on his All Blacks debut in 2013. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.co.nz
Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.co.nz / www.photosport.co.nz
“Being able to attract players of Frank’s calibre, in their prime, is a reflection of the upward curve the club is following,” said Young on announcing the signing.
“We have made no secret of our ambition to become a top four side and recruiting players of his ability will help us take another step towards achieving that goal in the coming seasons.”
Wasps have confirmed the signing of an explosive All Blacks wing
WASPS HAVE CONFIRMED that New Zealand-capped wing Frank Halai will join the club from the Auckland Blues next season.
The 26-year-old has scored 13 tries in Super Rugby over the last two seasons, ending the 2013 campaign as the top try scorer in the competition after dotting down 10 times in 16 starts.
Halai made his All Blacks debut that same year, scoring against Japan, though he hasn’t featured under Steve Hansen since. The Tonga-born wing possesses remarkable power and pace, meaning he will add another major threat to Wasps’ backline next season.
Wasps had already announced that Leinster out-half Jimmy Gopperth will join them in the summer, and the Dai Young-coached Premiership club’s ambition appears to be growing all the time.
Some might question Halai’s decision to leave his homeland at the age of 26 rather than continue to fight his way back into the New Zealand set-up, but this signing is an impressive coup for Wasps.
The club has made a so-far successful move to Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, and having achieved qualification into the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup – their first knock-out game in Europe’s top competition since 2007 – Wasps are already progressing this season.
“Being able to attract players of Frank’s calibre, in their prime, is a reflection of the upward curve the club is following,” said Young on announcing the signing.
“We have made no secret of our ambition to become a top four side and recruiting players of his ability will help us take another step towards achieving that goal in the coming seasons.”
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All Blacks Frank Halai jimmy gopperth Transfer Wasps wing