New Zealand's Victor Vito to join La Rochelle
Wednesday 3 February 2016 06:24, UK
New Zealand back-row forward Victor Vito will join Top 14 club La Rochelle next season.
The 28-year-old Wellingtonian, who has played for the Hurricanes since 2009, has signed signed a three-year contract with the French club.
Vito has been capped 33 times by the All Blacks and his last appearance was in the World Cup final against Australia when he came off the bench for the last nine minutes.
He will join up with a number of fellow New Zealanders at La Rochelle, on the western Atlantic coast of France, including an All Black in lock Jason Eaton.
"It's never easy to fight the ego and say no to the chance to represent your country, but my young family trumps my ego any day, especially when there is a chance to provide them with a better future," Vito said.
"It's been a bit of a roller coaster for me in the All Blacks being in and out of the side for the past six seasons and if I'm honest I probably wasn't mentally ready until 2014.
"Luckily for me Steve Hansen and the other coaches persevered and over the past two years in particular I've been pretty proud of what I've done in the black jersey."
