Glasgow Warriors have signed Fijian winger Taqele Naiyaravoro from Super Rugby champions NSW Waratahs on a three-year deal.
The former rugby league player has impressed Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend since swapping codes last year.
Naiyaravoro, who can play on the wing or at centre, will join the Warriors at the end of the current Super Rugby season, subject to obtaining a visa and passing a medical.
The 123kg uncapped 23-year-old – previously compared to former New Zealand star Jonah Lomu – had been tipped to move to Edinburgh but has now decided to try his luck with their Guinness Pro12 rivals.
With his international status still undecided, he may become an option for Scotland if he stays long enough to qualify through residency rules.
On Sunday Naiyaravoro said he would ditch his deal with the Scottish Rugby Union if he is capped by the Wallabies this year.
The blockbusting winger can only renege on the Scots if he makes his Test debut for Australia – and that has looked increasingly likely given his superb form for the Waratahs.
He crossed again in Saturday night’s 33-18 Super Rugby win over the Sharks to be the defending champions’ outright top tryscorer in 2015.
“Yeah, if I get selected then I will stay here,” Naiyaravoro said in Australia on Sunday.
On Monday he was talking up his move to Glasgow.
“Glasgow have been talking to me for a while and opened the door for me, so I’m happy to have signed a long-term contract with the club. I’m looking forward to moving to Glasgow with my family to continue my development.
“They are a strong team and it’s really exciting to get the opportunity to move over there and play my rugby in Scotland next season.
“It’s been great playing with the likes of Adam Ashley-Cooper and Kurtley Beale at the Waratahs this season. They’ve been really helpful and I’ve learnt a lot from them.
“It will be a new challenge for me to play in the Pro12 and compete against the best sides in Europe in the Champions Cup.”
Naiyaravoro has played 15 times for the Waratahs since joining last May, notching up six tries in the process.
“Taqele is a very exciting signing for our club,” said Townsend.
“We’ve been tracking him for a number of months and we know there has been a lot of speculation about his future, so we’re delighted that we can finally announce that he will become a Glasgow Warriors player in the summer.
“Taqele has made a real impact since joining the Waratahs last season and has the potential to become one of the best wingers in the Pro12.
“We look forward to him joining us at the end of the season and we know he’ll be with us regardless of any international commitments.”
