Report: Top 14 club sign former Crusader and Wallaby loose forward

Former Crusader and current Wallaby and Brumbies flanker Pete Samu has inked a two-year deal in France following this year’s Rugby World Cup according to a report by RugbyRama.

The French publication reports that big-spending Bordeaux-Bègles have made the splash signing after being in the transfer market for some big names.

The 31-year-old loose forward was capped by the Wallabies in 2018 under former coach Michael Cheika and played nine tests that season but did not feature at all the following year in 2019.

The Brumbies blindside flanker earnt a recall under new head coach Dave Rennie but featured just once in 2020 in the opening Test against the All Blacks.

In 2021 Samu featured regularly off the bench for the Wallabies and in 2022 began to find his way into the starting side more regularly featuring at openside.

His best career moments for the Wallabies came last season with a game-sealing try against England in the first test, scoring with three minutes to go to give the Wallabies a 30-14 lead which proved pivotal in the 30-28 win.

Against the All Blacks in Melbourne Samu produced a sublime try combining with flying Fijian Marika Koroibete down the left hand side while at Eden Park the following week he was the Wallabies best on park.

Bordeaux have added an international quality back rower who can play across all three positions in Samu, while they have also signed Tongan-born Japanese No 8 Tevita Tatafu from Suntory Sungoliath to bolster their loosies.

Pete Samu has 90 Super Rugby caps, split with 33 at the Crusaders and 57 with the Brumbies over the six seasons he has been there.

He won two Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders before making the move back home to Australia where he has 32 Test caps for the Wallabies.