Fijian winger becomes Force's marquee
The Western Force have ended rumours that Sonny Bill Williams could be heading their way by signing Fijian World Cup winger Napolioni Nalaga as the club's marquee signing for the 2012 Super Rugby season.
Nalaga, a former French Top 14 Player of the Year, replaces David Smith on the Force list after the Samoan winger took up a contract to play with Toulon.
Williams had been linked with the Force, but Nalaga's arrival means there is no marquee spot left for the Kiwi.
"I'm pretty excited about coming to Super Rugby. It is a competition I have been following for a long time," Nalaga said from Fiji's World Cup training base in New Zealand.
"There are some very good players and the level of rugby is very high as well.
"I enjoyed my time in France and I'm thankful for the opportunities Clermont gave me but I'm looking forward to a new challenge as well.
"I haven't ever been to Perth but I know it is a good place and it will be good for my rugby."
Nalaga, a 191cm, 95kg winger, set the Top 14 alight on arrival in 2007, scoring 16 tries in his first season at Clermont before adding 21 tries the following year to earn the player of the year award.
After four years in France, the 25-year-old felt the time was right for a new challenge.
Force coach Richard Graham said Nalaga would fit perfectly into their set-up.
"I spoke to numerous people about Nalaga, including the coach that first had him at Clermont (Joe Schmidt), and he couldn't have spoken more highly of him as a person or the work ethic he brought to his preparation and performance," Graham said.
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