Fijian flanker Naulia Dawai has signed for Connacht on a two-year deal.
Currently playing for NPC side Otago in New Zealand, Dawai's form was rewarded with an international call-up to his native Fiji for three tests this season.
Dawai moved to New Zealand in 2011 to play club rugby with Southland, breaking into the 2013 ITM Cup team before moving to Otago. He featured regularly in the 2015 ITM Cup and became only the fourth player in NPC history to score a hat trick at Eden Park.
Coach Pat Lam describes Dawi as an "exciting" addition with "X-factor"
" He can play across the back row, which is a great boost to our options up front and also provides vital depth and competition in those positions.
"We were really impressed with the rugby Naulia's been playing in the NPC and also with the Fiji national side during the summer. When Otago head coach and good friend Cory Brown - a former coach at Connacht - confirmed to me Naulia's work ethic and ability on and off the field, we were very pleased to secure him for Connacht Rugby.
