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US Eagles front rower Joe Taufete’e is headed back to Europe. The 29-year-old has signed on with the Leicester Tigers for the 2022-2023 English Premiership season. He departs the LA Giltinis, who he joined in March from French Top 14 side Lyon.
This will be the second Premiership club for Taufete’e. He spent four seasons with Worcester Warriors from 2016 to 2020 before making the move across the channel to France. During his time with Lyon, Taufete’e attempted a transition to tighthead prop but Tigers have signed him as a hooker where he played both tests for the Eagles against Chile in July.
The addition gives Leicester valuable international experience at the No2 position while incumbent starter Julian Montoya is on Pumas duty in the Rugby Championship. It also gives the Eagles three European-based hooker options ahead of their all-important World Cup Qualifiers with Kapeli Pifeleti also in the Premiership at Saracens and Mike Sosene-Feagai signed for Pro D2 side Agen.
