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Vaea Fifita explains why he has signed Scarlets contract extension
By Liam Heagney
Former All Blacks back-rower Vaea Fifita has ended speculation over his future by signing a contract extension at the Scarlets. There had been rumours that the forward, who switched his country allegiance and represented Tonga at last year’s Rugby World Cup, would exit Parc Y Scarlets before the start of the 2024/25 season.
However, he has decided to stay with the Llanelli-based club and is now preparing for their new-season opener away to Benetton in Italy on September 21. A statement read: “Scarlets are delighted to confirm that Tonga international Vaea Fifta has signed a contract extension with the club. The 32-year-old forward has become big fans favourite in Llanelli since his switch from Wasps in 2022.
“A former All Black, Vaea’s dynamic ball-carrying and athleticism has seen him produce some incredible individual moments – notably his match-winning try in the Challenge Cup knockout stages against Brive in 2023. He also finished last season’s United Rugby Championship campaign with the most lineout steals in the competition.
“After making 11 appearances for New Zealand, Fifita switched to the country of his birth, Tonga, ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and played for ?Ikale Tahi at the global tournament. He has made 35 appearances for the Scarlets, scoring seven tries – including stunning solo efforts against the likes of Ulster, Brive, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Munster.
“Before his move to the northern hemisphere, Fifita was a member of the Hurricanes’ Super Rugby winning side, playing alongside current Scarlets and Tonga team-mate Sam Lousi and former Scarlet Blade Thomson.”
Fifita said: “The Scarlets supporters and community have made me and my family feel really at home. This means a lot to me and is something I don’t take for granted. By extending my contract I am demonstrating the confidence and commitment I have in this club, the staff and the direction we are heading.
"As an experienced member of the squad, I want to help this exciting young team achieve success. I am now focused on starting the season as well as I can to help the team get off to a positive start. The start of every season is always exciting and we can’t wait to get out in front of our supporters again.”
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel added: “It is fantastic that Vaea has committed to the Scarlets with a contract extension. He is a world-class athlete who has become a favourite with supporters since he arrived at the club.
"He is a special player who can produce special moments – you only have to look at the tries he has scored for us. He is also one of the best line-out forwards in the URC, particularly on opposition ball.
“I have spoken about wanting to keep our best players at the Scarlets and Vaea staying with us, following on from other important retentions and signings in key positions, highlights our drive to push the club forward over the coming seasons.”
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Yeah nar I pretty much agree with that sentiment, wasn't just about the lineout though.
Yeah, I think it's the future of SR, even TRC. Graham above just now posting about how good a night it was with a dbl header of ENGvSA and NZvFrance, and now I don't want to kick SA or Argentina out of TRC but it would be great if in this next of the woods 2 more top teams could come in to create more of these sort of nights (for rugby's appeal). Often Arg and SA and both travel here and you get those games but more often doesn't work out right.
Obviously a long way off but USA and Japan are the obvious two. First thing we need to do is get Eddie Jones kicked out of Japan so they can start improving again and then get a couple of US teams in SRP (even if one its just a US based and augmented Jaguares).
It will start off the whole conferences are crap debate again (which I will continue to argue vehemently against), but imagine a 6 team Pacific conference, Tokyo Sunwolves (drafted from Tokyo JRLO teams), Tokyo All Stars (made up of best remaining foreign players and overseas drafts), ALL Nihon (best of local non Tokyo based talent, inc China/Korea etc, with mainland Japan), a could of West Coast american franchises and perhaps a second self PI driven Hawai'i based team, or Jagaures. So I see a short NFL like 3 or 4 month comp as fitting best, maybe not even a full round, NZvAUSvPAC, all games taking place within a 6hr window. Model for NZ will definitely still require a competitive and funded NPC!
On the Crusaders, I liked last years ending with Grace on the bench (ovbiously form dependent but thats how it ended) and Lio-Willie at 8. I could have Blackadder trying to be a 7 but think balance will be used with him at 6 and Kellow as 7. Scott Barrett is an international 6 sized player. It is just NZ style/model that pushes him into the tight, I reckon he'd be a great loose player, and saders have Strange and Cahill as bigger players (plus that change could draw someone like Darry back). Same with Haig now, hes not grown yet but Barrett hight and been playing 6, now that the Highlanders have only chosen two locks he'll be playing lock, and that is going to change his growth trajectory massively, rather than seeing him grow like an International 6.
Go to commentsDan Carter is the leading points scorer and leading points per game person for a player with significant tests. 2s RWC winner and member of the games greatest ever team. It's not even close. The only question of GOAT for rugby is whether McCaw deserves it given Carter's numbers.
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