Rugby: Seta Tamanivalu moves to Crusaders

Seta Tamanivalu with the Chiefs this year. Photo / Photosport

All Blacks midfielder Seta Tamanivalu will swap the Chiefs for the Crusaders next season.
The 24-year-old, who is currently in Argentina with the All Blacks squad, played for the Chiefs for two seasons but will move south for 2017.

Born in Fiji and formerly a Fiji under-18 rugby league representative, Tamanivalu burst onto the New Zealand rugby scene in 2012 when he was selected in the Taranaki national provincial team. In 2013 he was named Taranaki's most promising player of the year, and in 2014 was recognised as New Zealand's Player of the Year in the national provincial competition.

He made his All Blacks debut against Wales in the June window and also played Australia last month.

"Seta is such an impressive player, and will add some real power and strength to our backline in 2017," Crusaders coach Scott Robertson said.

"He is exactly the sort of player we have been looking for to complement our squad, so we couldn't be more excited to have him on board."

He scored nine tries for the Chiefs in the 16 games he played in 2016 - just two less than Waratahs fullback Israel Folau who topped Super Rugby scoring with 11.

Tamanivalu said the offer to play for the Crusaders next year was an opportunity he did not want to miss.

"I am grateful for my time at the Chiefs and everything I have learned there, but this is a fantastic opportunity for me to develop in a different environment. I have long respected the Crusaders as a highly driven and successful team, so I am excited to be a part of that next year," Tamanivalu said.