One-time All Black Sosene Anesi has signed with the New South Wales Waratahs for next year's Super 14 rugby competition.
The Waikato and Chiefs speedster was yesterday unveiled as their marquee overseas import and outside back replacement for sacked Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri.
Anesi's manager approached the Waratahs last monthabout the chance of crossing the Tasman.
With Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga forming a powerful Chiefs back three, Anesi was looking elsewhere.
"This is a significant signing for us," Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said yesterday. "They don't just give away All Blacks jerseys, so to secure a New Zealand test player is pretty exciting for us as a team, and indeed the whole organisation."
Hickey was also looking at Wallaby Digby Ioane, but he had since re-signed with the Queensland Reds.
The Samoan-born 28-year-old Anesi - whose solitary test was against Fiji in 2005 - was signed as a fullback, to form a back three with Wallabies wingers Lachie Turner and Drew Mitchell, who recently switched from the Western Force.
Wallabies five-eighth Berrick Barnes and Brumbies halfback Josh Holmes are also recent signings.
Anesi is the third New Zealand player in the past year to switch to an Australian franchise. Flanker Daniel Braid played for the Reds this year while prop Ben Castle joined the Force.
Each Australian franchsie is allowed one marquee overseas import.
* Lote Tuqiri's drawn-out row with the Australian Rugby Union finished yesterday when they announced an end to their court action.
The former Wallabies winger had his A$1 million ($1.25 million) annual contract torn up by the ARU on July 1, but the circumstances leading to his sacking were not made public. The two sides reached an undisclosed settlement.
