Former Rugby League international and former Brumbies midfielder Solomone Kata has signed with Moana Pasifika for the debut Super Rugby Pacific season in 2022.
The double-international Rugby League star racked up seven Test caps for Tonga between 2014 and 2019 with an impressive five Test matches for New Zealand in 2016.
During his professional rugby league career, the 26-year-old made was just shy of his ton milestone with 93 matches for the New Zealand warriors where he was between 2015 and 2019.
He made the switch back to Rugby Union in 2019 when he signed with the Brumbies, going on to play 15 matches in Super Rugby. Just as he was cementing his place with the Brumbies Kata opted to stay in Auckland to be close to his family during a covid-impacted season. Named with Auckland rugby for the 2021 Bunnings NPC, Kata’s season was stunted by covid when he turned his attention to Moana Pasifika.
Head Coach Aaron Mauger described the powerful midfielder as an incredibly strong and talented player who would bring a huge breadth of experience to the Moana campaign.
“Solomone has already had a remarkable career in rugby league, and so he knows what a professional and international environment needs to look like to be successful.
“He has a great ability to run strong and stay upright in a tackle. That, combined with his speed, makes him an exciting prospect with ball in hand and we’re delighted to him in in Moana colours for next year,” Mauger said.
Kata is currently touring with the Ikale Tale on their northern tour. He is hoping for his first selection to the Tongan side against England this weekend.
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