Munster statement: World Cup winner Malakai Fekitoa is leaving
Former All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa will exit Munster after just a single season at the club. The 30-year-old was a high-profile signing from Wasps on a two-year deal that was announced on February 2 last year, but the Irish province are now planning to do without him for the 2023/24 season.
A statement read: “Munster Rugby can confirm that Malakai Fekitoa will depart at the end of the campaign after one year at the province. So far this season, Malakai has made 11 Munster appearances including nine starts, playing at inside centre and outside centre.
“He made his Champions Cup debut for Munster away to Toulouse last month and featured in the historic victory over South Africa at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in November. A World Cup winner with New Zealand in 2015, Malakai now represents his native Tonga at international level.”
Fekitoa won 25 caps for the All Blacks between 2014 and 2017 before moving to Europe where he spent two seasons at Toulon and three more at Wasps before taking up an offer to join Munster. That was a timely move for the centre as Wasps financially collapsed not long after he had left the English club.
Having served the mandatory stand-down period, Fekitoa changed national team allegiance from New Zealand to Tonga, the country of his birth. He initially represented them at an Olympics 7s qualifier on 2021 before going on to play Test XVs last year.
Latest Comments
Ben Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
Go to comments