The Western Force have signed Manly backrower Tevita Metuisela for the 2011 Super 15 season.

Metuisela, a cousin of recently-retired Wallaby George Smith, represented Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm and West Tigers over six seasons in league ranks before switching to union three years ago.

The 27-year-old was part of the ACT Brumbies Academy in 2009 and was an instrumental figure in Manly's 2010 Shute Shield campaign, playing alongside Force players Tim Fairbrother and Mark Swanepoel.

Metuisela faces an uphill battle to break into the Force's backrow, which includes Wallabies David Pocock, Matt Hodgson, Richard Brown and Ben McCalman.

"I see my role here to put pressure on the other backrowers to perform," Metuisela said.

"The Force has four Wallaby loose forwards and in fact that actually made my decision easy to come across.

"Having the quality that they do, I know I will be learning from the best and that is the only way you get better.

Force coach Richard Graham hoped Metuisela would thrive at the Force.

"He has been one of the standout backrowers in Sydney this season playing as a flanker or No.8 for a very good Manly side," Graham said.

"He gives us depth in an area in which we're fortunate to have a number of Wallabies."

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