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Edinburgh's Fijian Sevens raid continues as Cockerill confirms Sevens captain Kalione Nasoko pen deal

By Online Editors
Fiji Sevens captain Kalione Nasoko (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images)

Edinburgh have completed the signing of Fiji Sevens captain Kalione Nasoko on a two-year deal - the penultimate signing to be revealed on 'Magic Monday'.

The 6ft 3in, 92kg flyer – who was named in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Dream Team in both 2017 and 2018 – will join the club in the summer.

On signing for the capital club, Nasoko, 28, said: “I’m very excited by the opportunity to join Edinburgh. I am friends with Viliame Mata and he has said great things about the club - I can’t wait to get started.

“This is a great opportunity for my family, and after many years on the Sevens circuit, I can’t wait for this new challenge in Scotland. Everyone sounds very welcoming and I am looking forward to running out in front of the Edinburgh fans.”

Head Coach Richard Cockerill, added: “Kalione is a tremendously exciting player who is obviously captain of the Fiji Sevens side. He’ll predominantly play as a winger, but he has also played at 13.

“Kalione brings something different to our back-three. He gives us a little bit more of an x-factor and, as you see with the good teams around Europe, you need that type of threat.”

Nasoko made his Fiji Sevens debut at the 2016 Dubai Sevens – a tournament in which the South Sea Islanders were defeated in the final 26-14 by South Africa.

The winger was named in the HSBC World Series Dream Team in his first season on the circuit, while he was also awarded Player of the Final at the following year’s Hong Kong Sevens Tournament after defeating South Africa 22-0.

The 2017/18 campaign saw Nasoko pick up winners’ medals in Hamilton, Vancouver, Singapore, Hong-Kong and London, the winger also earning a silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in the Gold Coast, Australia.

To date, Nasoko has played 142 games on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens circuit, scoring 63 tries.