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David Tameilau has been offered a reprieve by French Pro D2 club Narbonne. After his deal with Newcastle Falcons fell through for convoluted reasons, it appeared the US Eagles forward would have to return state-side but he will have his chance to taste European professional rugby after all. A shoulder injury to David Penalva has necessitated the addition of another forward, with the Portuguese lock expected to be sidelined for at least four months. Tameilau arrives alongside Bay of Plenty prop Pingi Tala’apitanga, who is signed as a joker for Georgian prop Tariel Ratianidze.
Narbonne have had a turbulent year and were set to be demoted to the Federale 1 due to financial problems only to be spared at the 11th hour. They have since axed former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom form his role as club president, with former Australia teammate Justin Harrison ousted as head coach in March. Under new management the club has achieved stability and have four wins under their belt from the first eight weeks of the Pro D2 season.
Tameilau will share the pitch with a handful of internationals including two former All Blacks in prop Neemia Tialata and scrumhalf Piri Weepu. A pair of Pacific Islands back fielders in Fijian Leone Tabuarua and Tongan Saia Fekitoa feature as well as Spanish scrumhalf Sebastian Rouet.
