Brumbies sign Chiefs flyer

August 07, 2018
1939
Ultimate Rugby

The Brumbies have confirmed the signing of Chiefs winger Toni Pulu on a two-year deal.

Pulu, born in Los Angeles, USA, moved to New Zealand at the age of three and was educated at Dilworth School in Auckland and sprung to prominence when selected for Counties Manukau in the ITM Cup.

After three years of consistent performances for Counties, Pulu was drafted into the Chiefs wider training squad before making his Super Rugby debut in 2016 against the Force in Waikato. He has since been capped 32 times and has scored fourteen tries.

Regarded as one of the quickest players to ever take part in Super Rugby, a genuine match-winner and a regular try-scorer, Pulu is an exciting addition to a star-studded Brumbies back-line.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Brumbies and am looking forward to beginning a new stage of my rugby career in Australia,” Pulu said of his signing for the Canberra-based club.

“The Brumbies are a well-known and well-respected organisation and I have been impressed by what I have seen and heard when playing against them. They are known for their free-flowing rugby and for their unique family culture.

“I have enjoyed my time with the Chiefs immensely but am very much looking forward to moving to Canberra and settling in with my new club.”

It’s not just in XV’s that Pulu has shown his scintillating speed as the winger has been selected for three Sevens competitions for Niue, his ancestral home, playing his part in the 2011 Gold Coast Sevens amongst other tournaments.

“With the changes we’re making in our game, and the style we’re looking to play, we’ve got to recruit guys that match that,” Plus500 Brumbies Head Coach Dan McKellar commented.

“Toni has genuine speed, but not only that, he’s a natural footballer too, he sees space well, communicates and has an excellent offload game. He’s come from a team which has had a lot of success and play a similar style to the one we want to play so he’s a good fit for us.

“Character is very important when we are deciding who to sign. We’ve got to bring talented players here, but the right people as well and Pulu fits that. “