Les Soloai is returning to Major League Rugby but with a new team. The former Utah Warriors No8 has signed on with the Seattle Seawolves for the 2021 season. He was initially set to play in the 2020 campaign but the pandemic suspension delayed his Seattle debut for a year.
A hulking ball carrier at 6’5″ (1.95m) and 265lbs (120kg), Soloai was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia but represented the USA at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. In his two MLR seasons with the Warriors he played 8 games with 2 starts.
Soon to celebrate his 34th birthday, Soloai adds a sizeable veteran presence to the Seawolves and provides backup to captain Riekert Hattingh at the back of the scrum. He is the latest in a barrage of Seattle announcements following South African second row Rhyno Herbst, Namibia hooker Obert Nortjé, and All-American back row Tommy Clark.
At the same time the club have also confirmed the departure of fan favorite Vili Toluta’u. The one-time US Eagles flanker, who also covers hooker, is set to move to another MLR club though he did not confirm his destination in a statement thanking the Seawolves on social media.