Ospreys sign Waisea Nayacalevu as he exits Sale mid-season

Ospreys have agreed an immediate deal with Sale Sharks to sign Fiji skipper Waisea Nayacalevu, who has flopped since moving to the North-West last summer.

RugbyPass exclusively revealed last month that the Sharks had told the outside centre he was free to leave the club after only playing 21 minutes since returning from international duty in the Autumn Nations Series.

Nayacalevu signed a one-year deal with the Sharks, with the option for a second year, as a replacement for England and Lions star Manu Tuilagi when he moved to Bayonne, but he has struggled to hold down a regular place in the side.

The 6’4” star, who weighs in at 16st 7lb, has only made seven appearances for the Sharks this season, although he did play the full 80 minutes in a 19-17 Premiership Cup win over Newcastle Falcons two weeks ago.

However, they have decided to cut their losses and allow Nayacalevu, who famously scored for Fiji in their memorable pre-World Cup win against England at Twickenham, to immediately move to South Wales.

Nayacalevu spent ten years in France at Stade Français, playing 185 times before moving to Toulon in 2022, where he featured 29 times before linking up with Alex Sanderson’s side.

He is due to return to the South of France next season after agreeing on a two-year deal with Nice, despite them facing relegation to the third tier.

Nice are 23 points adrift at the bottom of the Pro D2 table after losing 18 of their 21 games this season, and with a points difference of -252, they are determined to spend big to ensure a quick return to the second tier.

Ironically, one of the players they have signed - former Wales fly-half Owen Williams - will be a teammate of Nayacalevu’s at the Welsh region for the next few months until they reunite back in France.