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Wallaby Pone Fa'amausili swaps Super Rugby for Pro D2 with immediate effect

Pone Fa'amausili during a Wallabies training session ahead of the Rugby World Cup France 2023, at Stade Roger Baudras on September 05, 2023 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Former Australia tighthead prop Pone Fa’amausili has signed for Pro D2’s Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente as a medical joker.

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The seven-cap Wallaby, 28, who was part of Eddie Jones’ squad for the 2023 World Cup, has been drafted in following an injury to Yassin Boutemmani, who was forced from the field 20 minutes into the opening game of the season for the French outfit.

Fa’amausili was part of a 15-strong list of Moana Pasifika departures at the end of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season, just one campaign after joining the club. “Goodbyes are never easy, but they remind us just how meaningful the journey has been. Thank you brothers for everything,” was the message shared by Moana Pasifika on social media following Fa’amausili’s release.

Injury robbed the 138kg prop of much of the 2025 campaign after making the move from the Melbourne Rebels, having to wait until May to make his debut.

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“Following Yassin Boutemmani’s injury, the club’s management and staff began searching for a medical replacement to replace our tighthead prop,” Soyaux Angoulême shared in a statement.

“An Australian international who has played seven matches for the Wallabies, Pone joins our team with solid top-level experience.

“Aged 28, Pone arrives with the desire to play as much as possible and support the team in its objectives.”

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SAXV sit in 10th place in Pro D2 currently, having recently lost to Vannes following an opening round victory over Provence.

They take on Dax this weekend, where they may be bolstered by their latest acquisition.

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Tom 1 hour ago
Change at the top is only answer for England – Andy Goode

We aren't miles ahead of any other nation in terms of talent at all. I agree Borthwick is a mediocre coach but let's not get carried away. France have won the u20 world cup three out of the last five times and just beat us in both the u20 and u18 six nations… and I don't think many people would claim we've got more talent than SA or the ABs either. Ibitoye isn't someone you want in a test match, he's so unpredictable. In a tight test match there are very few scoring opportunities for wingers but there are lots of opportunities for wingers to make defensive misreads and balls things up. In a tightly contested, low scoring game, you'd much rather have someone like Feyi Wabosi who has X factor but can be relied upon to defend properly or not have a brain farts, we've got other good wingers without needing Ibitoye.

I agree in general with your sentiment but we should be realistic. We've won the u20 WC once in the last decade, won the six nations only twice. A prem club hasn't won anything in Europe since Bristol won the challenge cup when they had Piutau, Radradra. There is talent out there for sure but our clubs and u20s aren't enjoying the level of success which could support statements about us having the most talent in the world. If a new coach comes in they aren't going to wave a magic wand and make us the best team in the world. There are a lot of structural problems and engrained attitudes which need to be overcome within the RFU and Prem etc. Plus any new coach is going to have to undo the damage Borthwick and Wigglesworth have done. They're going to have their work cut out for them.



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