Vaea Fifita snubs New Zealand Super Rugby return

The Scarlets have pulled off a massive coup after holding off the advances of Super Rugby outfit Moana Pasifika to retain the services of former All Black’s blindside flanker Vaea Fifita.

Moana Pasifika head coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga wanted to follow up the signing of All Blacks vice-captain Ardie Savea by luring Fifita, 32, away from South Wales this summer.

Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel had been fighting hard to keep hold of Fifita, who won the Super Rugby title with Hurricanes and was signed from Wasps just before they went out of business two years ago.

Caleb Muntz on the San Diego Test’s heavy dose of Hamilton Boys High alumni | Steinlager Series

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Caleb Muntz on the San Diego Test’s heavy dose of Hamilton Boys High alumni | Steinlager Series

Fifita, who earlier in the year was also linked with a move to Montpellier, has made 34 appearances in his two years with the Scarlets and is now likely to spend at least the next two seasons with the Scarlets – – report Wales Online.

Fifita won 11 All Black’s caps before switching his international allegiance to his native Tonga, playing two games in the World Cup last year before being banned after getting sent off against Scotland.

It is a blow for the Moana Pasifika, who were looking to take advantage of the Scarlets having £700,000 knocked off their playing budget for next season to operate with a salary cap of £4.5m.

Peel has done well to retain the services of big guns Fifita, Tongan lock Sam Lousi, Scotland second-row Alex Craig and Wales centre Johnny Williams while operating under such restrictions for next season.

And Peel admitted earlier this year that he thought it was going to be difficult to keep hold of his big names who would be taking up between 10 and 15 per cent of his total playing budget.

“The budget is the budget, and like every other business, you have to adjust your cloth accordingly. It’s difficult in many ways because you’re competing with a market that’s way above what you’ve got.

“You have to try and manage that budget the best you can in getting the depth in the squad and the quality needed. Those big money contracts are difficult to compete with because we haven’t got the money,” he said.