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Tongan World Cup flyhalf Kurt Morath is joining PRO Rugby. Rumored for several weeks to be joining the new American professional competition, league Director of Rugby Operations Stephen Lewis confirmed the news in an interview with Matt McCarthy of the Rugby Wrap Up. Morath will join an impressive backline that includes Canadian international Phil Mackenzie and a handful of US Eagles including star winger and former teammate Takudzwa Ngwenya.
A specialist goal kicker, the 31-year-old is Tonga’s all-time leading points scorer with 338 from 30 tests since making his debut against Portugal in 2009, including an 18-point haul against the Eagles in Tonga’s 33-19 win during last year’s Pacific Nations Cup. He has been Tonga’s first choice flyhalf for both the 2011 and 2015 World Cups despite the challenge of rising talent Latiume Fosita in the most recent tournament.
Originally from Takapuna, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, Morath has been a professional since 2006. His travels have taken him from New Zealand to Ireland to Japan and most recently France, where he spent the 2014-15 season with Biarritz Olympique in Pro D2. He has been unattached since the conclusion of the World Cup in October.
