Racing 92 sign Wallabies hooker as medical joker

Racing 92 have announced the signing of three-cap Australia international Feleti Kaitu'u as a medical joker.

The 29-year-old hooker will help alleviate a mini crisis for Stuart Lancaster in that position, with Camille Chat currently serving a ban and Janick Tarrit expected to miss several weeks due to an injury.

Racing have not announced how long the Australian will be in Paris for, nor when he arrived, but the club face Bordeaux-Begles on Saturday in the Top 14. It is unclear whether Kaitu'u will feature in that match, but that will be the only fixture Chat is barred from playing in as he only serves a one-week ban.

Kaitu'u made the move from the Western Force to the Reds at the end of the Super Rugby Pacific season.

The hooker, who earned his three caps for the Wallabies in 2021, made 61 appearances for the Force between 2018 and 2024.

“I’m grateful to have donned the Western Force blue and be part of the Western Australian rugby community for the past seven seasons," Kaitu’u said after making his move across Australia.

“I want to offer a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has played a part in this chapter of my journey. There are memories to last a lifetime. #168 signing out.”

Force general manager of rugby Chris Goodman added: “Feleti has been a loyal, committed member of the Force across seven years.

“He has made a significant contribution to this Club, earning Wallabies recognition during his time here and will go down in Force history as our sixth men’s captain. We wish him well for the next step in his career."