Aviva Premiership
Hala'ufia signs deal with London Welsh
ESPN Staff
November 14, 2014
London Irish's Chris Hala'ufia fends off Worcester's Jonathan Thomas, Worcester Warriors v London Irish, Aviva Premiership, Sixways, Worcester, September 14, 2013
Chris Hala'ufia, pictured in his London Irish days, has left Scarlets for London Welsh © Getty Images
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London Welsh have announced the signings of Chris Hala'ufia from Scarlets and No.8 Opeti Fonua from Bayonne. Hala'ufia joins on a permanent basis after completed a successful two-week loan last month. Hala'ufia had only joined Scarlets from London Irish in the summer of 2014 after six seasons at the Madejski Stadium.

The powerful back-rower made his London Welsh debut off the bench against Harlequins on October 4, before starting against Newcastle one week later. The 36-year-old starts against Wasps on Sunday, with Fonua on the bench.

"Chris impressed me with his performance against Newcastle," said London welsh Performance Director Justin Burnell, "but he also impressed me on and off the training pitch during the two weeks he was with us.

"His attitude was excellent; he was very respectful of the environment at London Welsh and he got his head down and worked hard. His performance against Newcastle was one of the best by one of our back row forwards this season. He's got the experience of a huge number of Aviva Premiership games and he's also got that physicality we want - he's able to get over that gain line."

Hala'ufia is a hugely experience campaigner having played for Harlequins for two seasons to supplement his six with Irish and 24 caps for Tonga between 2000-2009.

Welsh sit rooted to the foot of the Premiership table, having failed to win a game. They are also winless in the European Challenge Cup and LV= Anglo-Welsh Cup.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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