London Irish have signed Tongan international prop Halani Aulika on a two-year contract.
Aulika played Super Rugby with the Highlanders in 2011
London Irish have signed Tonga international Halani Aulika on a two-year contract.
The 28-year-old prop, who represented Tonga in last year's Rugby World Cup, will join Irish for the start of the 2012/13 season.
"Halani will be a strong addition to our front row as he is able to play on both sides of the scrum," said head coach Toby Booth.
"He is dynamic and a good athlete which enables him to carry very well. His New Zealand upbringing means he displays good set piece attributes which is what we need in the Northern Hemisphere."
Aulika played for the Highlanders in the 2011 Super Rugby campaign and for Otago in New Zealand's ITM Cup, scoring five tries.
"London Irish play a very expansive style of rugby that I am familiar with having played a similar style in New Zealand," said Aulika, who has won five caps for his country.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Aviva Premiership and testing myself against some of the best players in Europe."
