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The New England Free Jacks have signed outside back Taniela Filimone for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. Born and raised in Tonga, he represented his country at the World Rugby u20 Trophy tournament in 2019 and in a non-capped sevens tournament in 2021.
Filimone was also a nationally-ranked track athlete in Tonga before taking up a scholarship in New Zealand. He made his senior provincial debut for Manawatu in 2021, playing five games, and continued with the squad in 2022. This past year also saw him training with the Chiefs of Super Rugby.
The 23-year-old is comfortable at outside center, wing, and fullback. Filimone joins a Free Jacks outside back stable that currently includes Paula Balekana, Zach Bastres, Isaac Olson, and Mitch Wilson. Dougie Fife has moved to New Orleans while Harry Barlow is joining the British Army.
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