Henry Fa'afili signs for connacht

Connacht have completed the signing of former rugby league star Henry Fa'afili, who joins from Biarritz.




The Samoa-born centre made his name at Warrington before moving to BO in 2007. However, after two seasons in France, Fa'afili then went on to play for Leeds Carnegie.



Fa'afili played 43 times for the Yorkshiremen, scoring five tries, but he was released at the end of the season when the club was relegated.



"I'm really looking forward to joining Connacht in what is a very exciting time for both myself and the club," said the 31-year-old.



"I've always wanted to experience the Celtic League and with Connacht in the Heineken Cup next year it's a great opportunity for me.



"I spoke to Mike Forshaw, who I know from my rugby league days, and he explained what Connacht were about and the great work that is going on there so I'm very excited about the move. Galway is a great city and myself and my fiancée are really looking forward to living there."

Not sure about this one.

bad signing, journeyman! shame benson stanley fell through±

funny guys i was think the same thing, as of yet he hasnt made an impact in union with leeds or biaritz, some difference between him and stanley, suposedly that will complete connachts squad, i was hoping that with qualifing for the henikien cup they could have had enought money to sign a fairly good player, after all they wer in negotitations with stanley

well who was there really? but this seems like spending money for the sake of spending money, why not look at a ryan crotty or someone young?

Not really spending money for the sake of it.

Their 1st choice 12 is out for the next 6 months or so with an Achilles heel rupture and their cover for 12 (Ta'auso, Nathan and Keatley) are no longer with the team.

Yes it's not a massive signing, but was Benson Stanley really going to join a team that averages 1500 people per match and has the worst facilities in the Pro12? Fa'afilli probably wouldn't be a good signing for anyone else, but its's all relative.

How can tehy sign him when they have already signed two NIQs in Loxton and Jarvis? Especially as that signing caused such problems with them being NIQ?

ScarletSpiderman wrote:How can tehy sign him when they have already signed two NIQs in Loxton and Jarvis? Especially as that signing caused such problems with them being NIQ?

It is a matter of dispute as to whether Loxton and Jarvis are NIQ

But would it not have made sence to sort that out before signing another NIQ?

Either way he is probably not a bad signing for Connacht, and with the HC this season strengthening the squad in any way is a good thing.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:But would it not have made sence to sort that out before signing another NIQ?

When you're looking to sign someone you don't want another team getting in there first, so from that point of view it definitely wouldn't have made sense to wait and see.

Also, the Connacht CEO has said that he's been told they're IQ and he's just waiting official confirmation, in which case it'd be silly to wait around.