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Rugby United New York have announced the signing of tighthead prop Samu Tawake for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. Originally from Suva, Fiji, the 23-year-old arrives from New Zealand where he has lives for the past six years.
Tawake was selected in the Fiji u20 squad for the 2014 Junior World Championship at the age of 18. He was called up to the Fiji Warriors squad in 2018, and made his senior Flying Fijians debut against the Barbarians last November, though he is yet to play a full test.
After playing for the Sumner club in Christchurch, Tawake made his Mitre 10 Cup debut for Canterbury against Otago in September 2018 and also played for the Crusaders development side. He was named Rookie of the Year after starting nine games for the Manawatu Turbos in 2019.
The second RUNY signing from the Pacific Island nation in recent days, Tawake follows Fiji Sevens standout Apenisa Cakaubalavu. Tawake is the third front rower confirmed for the 2021 campaign following returnees James Rochford and captain Dylan Fawsitt.
