Fiji prop Campese Ma'afu has joined Northampton Saints with immediate effect.
Ma'afu, most recently registered in France with Division Two club Aix-en-Provence, has experience of English conditions from a stint with Championship outfit Nottingham.
The 31-year-old has won 39 international caps, the last of which came during the World Cup against Uruguay in Milton Keynes.
"Campese will add to our experience in one of the most important positions on the field," Saints coach Jim Mallinder said.
"He has played at the highest international level at two Rugby World Cups and he will give us options, both for the rest of this season and in years to come.
"We were impressed by how he played in the World Cup, especially against England at Twickenham."
Ma'afu was a regular spectator at Franklin's Gardens when his brother Salesi played in a title-winning Northampton team, and he cannot wait for a chance to impress his new home crowd.
He said: "During my time at Nottingham and when Salesi was here I was at quite a lot of the home games. There's a great atmosphere here, and I hope I've got a lot to offer to the team.
"Playing in the Aviva Premiership was a goal for me as soon as I moved to the northern hemisphere. Now that I've been blessed with this opportunity with the Saints it's something I really want to do my best at.
"I know there's big competition for the jersey. The Waller brothers are both quality looseheads, and it's going to be good competition for me to play alongside a good bunch of boys."