Ealing Trailfinders sign NRL convert Niko

Ambitious Ealing Trailfinders have signed a former NRL winger Elijah Niko, who was on the books at New Zealand Warriors and Melbourne Storm.

Standing at 6ft 4”, the winger signs from Yorkshire Carnegie where he has impressed in the Greene King IPA Championship after a six month spell at Headingley, scoring seven tries in 14 appearances.

The 28-year-old is originally from Wellington in New Zealand and is of Samoan descent. He played Rugby League as a junior, signing professionally for New Zealand Warriors in 2008 before moving to Melbourne Storm in 2011.

He then switched codes to Rugby Union as part of the Australian National Sevens squad before moving to France to play with Pau, Albi and Beziers.

“Ealing Trailfinders is an ambitious club with a very professional outfit, great players and great staff. A while back I spoke with Jordy Reid who I know very well and heard first hand from him about the club and the many good things as well as the goals for the upcoming season," Niko said.

"It certainly attracted me and I am very grateful to be part of this team and looking forward to getting stuck in at training with my new team mates.”

Director of Rugby Ben Ward is thrilled to have another top quality arrival at Trailfinders Sports Club.

“Elijah is a very exciting addition to our side and we are looking forward to seeing him in an Ealing Trailfinders shirt. With Will Harries departing we have been on the search for someone to add some X factor out wide, we feel he will be able to do that and will compliment our back three.”

He will vie with current wingers James Cordy Redden, Seb Stegmann and Reon Joseph for a starting spot at Ealing.

In other news: Christian Lealiifano explains his decision to leave the Brumbies