'We're grateful': Bath sign Tongan Ma'afu Fia with immediate effect

Bath have signed Tonga international Ma’afu Fia on loan from Ospreys, the Welsh URC club, until the end of the current Gallagher Premiership season. A Bath statement read: “A 2009 Junior World Cup winner with New Zealand U20s, Fia played provincial rugby for Manawatu before spending three seasons in the Highlanders’ Super Rugby squad.

“He switched to Wales with the Ospreys in 2015 and his performances for the Swansea-based outfit saw him earn his first of eleven Tonga caps in 2018, before representing his country at the World Cup a year later.

“Fia has been a consistent member of the Ospreys squad for the past seven years and has amassed over 100 appearances for the Welsh region. He links up with Bath with immediate effect and will be available for selection for this weekend’s match against Leicester Tigers in the Gallagher Premiership.”

Bath head coach Neal Hatley said: “We are grateful to Ospreys for allowing Ma’afu to join us as injury cover until the end of the season. He is a strong scrummager with international experience and will add value to our tighthead options alongside Will Stuart, D’Arcy Rae, Johannes and Kieran Verden.”