Leinster have signed Samoan international prop Michael Alaalatoa from Super Rugby side, the Crusaders.
The 29-year old is the older brother of Brumbies captain, and Australia international, Allan Alaalatoa.
Alaalatoa will join up with Leinster in time for pre-season training for the 2021-22 campaign.
The elder Alaalatoa was born in New South Wales, but represented the country of his father's birth for the 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan.
His last international outing came against Ireland in Fukuoka. The Alaalatoa brothers' Dad, Vili, was part of the Western Samoa side that famously beat Wales en route to a World Cup quarter-final appearance in 1991.
The tighthead has made 89 appearances for the Crusaders so far, saying, "As hard as it will be to leave my Crusaders family at the end of the season, I’ve heard awesome things about Leinster and look forward to the next challenge in my rugby career.
"This is a chance to have an adventure with my young family in Dublin, and I’m really looking forward to getting over there and connecting with the club."
Welcoming their new signing, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said, "We are very excited by Michael’s arrival in the coming months. He is a player with top quality Super Rugby and international experience and he is hungry for further success and to play a part in building on the work that is already underway here.
"We have a group of younger props who will only benefit from his experience and we believe the wider group will also learn a lot from Michael and his rugby knowledge from playing with the Crusaders in particular.
"We look forward to welcoming him and his family to the club later this summer."
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