Api Ratuniyarawa joins London Irish

London Irish have confirmed the signing of Api Ratuniyarawa from Northampton Saints.

The experienced lock will join Declan Kidney’s squad when preparations begin for the 2022/23 season.

Ratuniyarawa, who has made 130 appearances for Saints in his six seasons at Franklin’s Gardens, arrived in the Midlands from Agen in 2016 and went on to reach the Premiership semi-finals and win a Premiership Rugby Cup for Northampton.

The 6ft 6ins, 19 stone second-row forward was awarded Saints’ Breakthrough Player of the Season in his first full season in 2017/18 and has appeared for Saints in four Champions Cup campaigns.

In 2012, the Fijian made his international debut in front of a Twickenham crowd against England, representing his country in the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups, scoring two tries on the biggest rugby stage.