Lalkai Phoketi: Ospreys sign at Australia center from New Zealand

Foketti, 31, was born in New Zealand before his family moved to Australia.

He played for Australia under-20s and made his Super Rugby debut for the Melbourne Rebels in 2014 before moving on to play for French side Bayonne later that year.

Foketti returned to New Zealand where he played a couple of seasons for Bay of Plenty in the M10 Cup competition before linking up with the NSW Waratahs from 2018 to 2025.

Phoketi was given his first Australia cap as a substitute 29-28 loss against Wales Before making three appearances at the 2023 World Cup in Cardiff, France in November 2021.

Foketti played for the First Nations and Pasifika XVs against the British and Irish Lions on the 2025 summer tour of Australia before leaving the Waratahs later that year.

He has joined the Hamilton-based Chiefs for the 2026 campaign and will feature in next weekend’s Super Rugby final.

Foketti was instrumental in the semi-final win over the Crusaders with three try assists, the joint-most of any center in Super Rugby since 2020.

“This is another fantastic piece of news for the club and our supporters,” said Ospreys head coach Mark Jones.

“Lalkai is an experienced international who can immediately make a real contribution to us on and off the field.

“He is a true all-rounder at center with what he can offer on the ball and in defence, and we feel he will add more quality to our already talented group of centres.

“He’s got some points of difference that will bring a new dimension to our attack and we’re excited to put that to work.”