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    Young star opts for France over All Blacks

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    Highly rated French loose forward Patrick Tuifua signs for Toulon on a three-year deal despite interest from New Zealand.

    New Caledonia-born Tuifua has been at the Hurricanes’ academy in Wellington since 2022 having originally moved to New Zealand aged 15, making him eligible for the All Blacks on residency grounds.

    The 20-year-old played for France at last year’s U20 Six Nations but decided to stay in New Zealand to play club rugby having caught the eye of All Blacks selectors.

    Tuifua has yet to feature for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Pacific this term having turned out for Hawke’s Bay in the National Provincial Championship.

    He will head to the Cote d’Azur for next season when he will compete with the likes of France’s Charles Ollivon and former England flanker Lewis Ludlam for a place in Toulon’s back row.

    © Agence France-Presse

    Photo: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

    The post Young star opts for France over All Blacks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

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