BANBURY RUFC have revealed former Tonga international Soane Tonga’uiha as player-coach.
The 40-year-old adds 130kg to the front row after joining from Chinnor RFC.
As head coach, he completes Banbury’s coaching team with director or rugby, Matt Goode – who also concentrates on the backs – and forwards coach, Ian Isham.
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Tonga’uiha played age group rugby for New Zealand, before going on to win 18 caps for his native Tonga, for whom he represented at the 2007, 2011 and 2015 World Cups.
At club level, he is best known for a seven-year spell with Northampton Saints.
He said: “I’ll be a coach firstly, but I still enjoy playing so you may see me running around with the boys when needed.
“I’m looking forward to developing this young squad and I’d like to pass on any experience I have to the rest of the club.
“There are so many great things at the club, most of all the mini and junior section, so working with their coaches and Matt all ties in well with the club’s vision and mine.”
Goode added: “Banbury now boasts hundreds of Premiership games and dozens of international caps within its coaching team.
“Soane will be a great asset to the club and coaching team, what he doesn’t know isn’t worth knowing.
“He is a great guy and very much looking forward to helping Banbury reach its full potential on and off the field.”
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