“It’s hard to say goodbye, but I’m really grateful for the people, the memories and the chance to represent this club.
“Wearing the jersey has been an honour and I hoped I have represented all this jersey stands for. Chiefs will always be home.”
Born in Tonga, Finau went to school in New Zealand before making his Waikato debut in 2019 and stepping up to the Chiefs squad for Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2021.
After a breakout Super Rugby season with the Chiefs in 2023, Finau earned his maiden All Blacks call up, where he marked his test debut against the Wallabies in Dunedin with a try.
He last played for the All Blacks in their 41-24 win over Argentina in Cordoba.
Finau joins Hoskins Sotutu (Newcastle), Dalton Papali’i (Castres), Sevu Reece and Braydon Ennor (Perpignan), and Cullen Grace (Scarlets) in confirming their departures. David Havili has also confirmed a move to Japan, although his new club is yet to be announced, while Stephen Perofeta has been linked with Yokohama.
The Chiefs are losing more than 200 caps-worth of players with Xavier Roe, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Lalakai Foketi, Liam Coombes-Fabling and Reuben O’Neill heading overseas.
The All Blacks play their first test of the year on Saturday, hosting France in Christchurch before facing Italy in Wellington and Ireland in Auckland.