All Black Ofa Tu’ungafasi joins Clermont

Ofa Tu’ungafasi lands in Auvergne on Wednesday and trains with Clermont from Thursday, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Toulouse.

Three props sidelined

Cristian Ojovan broke his foot in August, Régis Montagne has had a calf injury since October 10, and Sacha Lotrian underwent surgery on a broken tibia and fibula after the 27-26 defeat at Vannes on October 24. He is out for several months.

Able to play on both sides of the scrum, Tu’ungafasi will be available to Christophe Urios until the end of January.

The Plummer connection

“Ofa played many years with Harry at the Blues and told him last summer he wanted to try the Top 14”, Urios said on the club website. Fly-half Harry Plummer acted as the go-between. Urios also wants the prop to work with the academy’s young front-rowers.

68 caps from 2016 to 2024

Tu’ungafasi won his first cap in June 2016 and his last in November 2024, including nine Rugby World Cup games in 2019 and 2023. He has played more than 160 games for the Blues since 2013, winning Super Rugby in 2024, and featured for Auckland in the NPC until early October.

According to France Bleu, the Toulouse trip probably comes too soon. The Top 14 then breaks for three weeks after round 9, and Clermont host Toulon on November 28.