All Blacks back-rower Pita Gus Sowakula has put pen to paper on a contract to join French giants Clermont ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Sowakula earned two caps for the All Blacks against Ireland this July but failed to add to his cap tally afterwards, falling out of favour with the selectors.
Clermont’s high hopes
The 28-year-old is Clermont‘s first official signing ahead of the new season as project “Clermont 2025” kicks off, the club’s aim to claim their first Champions Cup title within three years.
Sowakula has signed a two-year deal with the club, with an option of a third, and comes into a squad desperate for a big ball-carrying number eight with Samoan international Fritz Lee set to leave the side.
Clermont women’s team have also confirmed that Sowakula’s wife, Toka Natua, a 27-cap Black Fern, will join the women’s team.
Falling out of favour
Shannon Frizell replaced Sowakula in the All Blacks squad ahead of the Rugby Championship, and the abrasive number eight was omitted from the All Blacks XV side in November.
Born in Fiji, Sowakula will need to wait three years to change his Test allegiance and having being snubbed by the New Zealand selectors; he is unlikely to feature in the black jersey at next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Clermont building
The signing of Sowakula kick starts Jono Gibbes’ “Clermont 2025” project, but that is just the beginning, with Midi Olympique reporting that Wallabies hooker Folau Fainga’a is also set to sign on with the club.
The Brumbies hooker will link up with his former teammate Irae Simone at the French side, while a host of contract extensions are reportedly close to being finalised.
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France prop Mohamed Haouas is set to leave Montpellier at the end of the season, and Clermont is believed to be in pole position to land his signature.
Meanwhile, Damian Penaud’s contract is expiring, and the club are eager to get his signature on the dotted lines with clubs lining up for his services.