The Chiefs have bolstered their backline stocks ahead of next year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign by signing highly rated Australia centre Lalakai Foketi.
The 30-year-old, who was born in Hamilton, is making the move to the Chiefs in a bid to revive his international career.
Last played for Australia at 2023 Rugby World Cup
The former Waratahs star ended 2023 as the Wallabies’ incumbent at inside centre after starting their last Rugby World Cup pool match against Portugal, after making appearances off the replacements bench at the global showpiece against Georgia and Fiji.
Since then, he has not played for Australia as a freak training accident days before the start of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season left him with a neck injury, which resulted in him only making his first appearance for the Waratahs in a Round Six clash against the Melbourne Rebels that year.
From there, the Waratahs struggled and finished at the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific table, and since Joe Schmidt took over the Wallabies’ coaching reins, Foketi has not played at Test level again.
However, by moving to the Chiefs, Foketi’s journey comes full circle as he returns to the Hamilton-based outfit who he represented through their pathways programme during the tenure of Dave Rennie as the club’s head coach.
Foketi’s first Super Rugby appearances were with the Melbourne Rebels in 2014 before he returned to New Zealand’s provincial rugby scene with Bay of Plenty, who he represented from 2015 to 2017.
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However, he headed back to Australia in 2018 to join the Waratahs and made his Wallabies debut against Wales in Cardiff in 2021.
‘Really excited’ by Chiefs return
“I’m really excited to be coming back to where it all began and be a part of the Chiefs family,” said Foketi, who has made nine appearances for the Wallabies at Test level.
“A massive thank you to everyone in the organisation for allowing me to come back and test myself to be a better player and person in 2026. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
New Chiefs head coach Jono Gibbes believes the addition of Foketi will bolster his side’s midfield depth in the midfield for the upcoming season.
“Lalakai is a quality player who brings international experience and an understanding of what Chiefs rugby is all about,” said Gibbes.
“We’re excited to welcome him back into our environment and look forward to seeing his maturity play out both on and off the field.”