Ospreys Secure Australia Centre Lalakai Foketi from Chiefs
Australia centre Lalakai Foketi participated in three of Australia's four matches during the 2023 Rugby World Cup, missing only the 40-6 loss to Wales.
The Ospreys have announced the signing of the nine-times capped Wallaby from the Super Rugby Pacific team Chiefs for the 2026-27 season. Foketi will join fellow Australians, lock Ryan Smith and flanker Liam Wright, at Swansea.
The club is also reportedly interested in acquiring Australian fly-half Lawson Creighton for the upcoming season.
"I'm happy to be joining the Ospreys and I can see the team has a clear vision of where it's striving to be," said Foketi. "I've heard a lot of good things about the environment and passion of the supporters, and I'm looking forward to getting to work with the coaches and my new team-mates."
Background and Career of Lalakai Foketi
Foketi, 31, was born in New Zealand before relocating to Australia with his family. He represented Australia Under-20s and made his Super Rugby debut with the Melbourne Rebels in 2014. Later that year, he moved to France to play for Bayonne.
He subsequently returned to New Zealand, playing for Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup for two seasons before joining the NSW Waratahs from 2018 through to 2025.
Foketi earned his first cap for Australia as a replacement during the narrow 29-28 defeat to Wales in Cardiff in November 2021. He then featured in three matches at the 2023 Rugby World Cup held in France.
In 2025, Foketi played for the First Nations and Pasifika XV against the British and Irish Lions during their summer tour of Australia. Later that year, he departed the Waratahs.
He joined the Hamilton-based Chiefs for the 2026 Super Rugby campaign and is set to participate in the Super Rugby final the following weekend.
Foketi was a key figure in the Chiefs' semi-final victory over the Crusaders, contributing three try assists — the joint highest number by any centre in a Super Rugby match since 2020.
Ospreys Head Coach Comments on the Signing
"This is another great bit of news for the club and our supporters," said Ospreys head coach Mark Jones. "Lalakai is an experienced international who can immediately make a real contribution for us on and off the field.
"He's a real all-rounder at centre with what he can offer on the ball and in defence, and we feel he will add even further quality to our already talented group of centres.
"He's got a few points of difference that will bring a new dimension to our attack, and we're excited to utilise that."
