Australia's centre Lalakai Foketi with fans during the 2023 World Cup(Image: Getty Images)
The Ospreys are closing in on a deal to sign Wallabies centre Lalakai Foketi from Super Rugby outfit Chiefs.
The 31-year-old is set to boost their backline stocks, having lost centre Phil Cokanasiga to Gloucester ahead of next season. Foketi, who won nine caps for Australia, has been based in New Zealand for the last year – playing seven times so far in Super Rugby.
Prior to that, the Hamilton-born midfielder had enjoyed a varied career, with spells at the Melbourne Rebels, Bayonne and the Waratahs.
While all of Foketi's starts in Test rugby came at inside centre, he is also capable of wearing the 13 jersey.
Foketi could be the Ospreys' second Australian international to join ahead of next season – with former Wallabies captain Liam Wright set to join.
Another Australian target, Bordeaux's Lachlan Swinton, looks set to stay in France.
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Having been born in New Zealand, Foketi's family relocated to Australia early in his life – with the centre rising through the schoolboy ranks to earn a place with the Rebels in Super Rugby.
However, he played just a handful of games for the Melbourne side – admitting later that he "took it for granted a little bit" as an 18-year-old.
He would then bounce around a bit, playing Mitre 10 rugby in New Zealand and having a brief spell in France, before going on to return to Australia – earning his place in the gold jersey..
After establishing himself in a strong midfield pairing with Izaia Perese at the Waratahs, he would make his Australia debut off the bench against Wales in Cardiff back in 2022.
Foketi would then feature eight more times for his country – with his final appearance being in the 2023 World Cup, where he featured in three of the four pool matches.
His only try in Test rugby, when he finished off a flowing 95-metre move against France in Paris, was nominated for World Rugby's try of the year in 2022.
Former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie lauded his abilities at inside-centre, saying that his "quality distribution and footwork are a genuine point of difference".
His former Waratahs coach Darren Coleman once praised him as an "ultimate all-rounder" who can "ball play, he can carry and he’s really strong defensively".
Coleman would add that Foketi was "one of the most dangerous strike centres in the league".
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He played twice against the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia last year, featuring for both the Waratahs as well as the First Nations & Pasifika XV side in Melbourne.
Foketi moved to the Chiefs last year in the hope of reviving his Test career in a similar fashion to James O'Connor, who earned a recall after joining the Crusaders.
However, his time in Australia came to a fairly acrimonious end – with Rugby Australia terminating his deal early for an alleged breach of contract, claiming he had joined up with the New Zealand side while still under contract with the Waratahs.
As such, Foketi vowed late last year that he would "never come back to play for like Australian rugby right now".
The Ospreys already announced a deal for Exeter utility back Dan John this week, while they remain on the lookout for a fly-half – with Cardiff's Harri Wilde one target.
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